​Thembisa Shologu
Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) Online Admissions for Grade 1 and 8 application period for 2024 will commence Thursday, 15 June 2023. The application process will close on Friday, 14 July 2023. 
Making the announcement at a media briefing on Sunday, MEC Matome Chiloane assured parents that the department will work around the clock to ensure placement. 
To apply, parents and guardians must log in to www.gdeadmissions.gov.za  and must provide one reliable and correct cell phone number when registering in order to receive important SMS notifications and updates regarding their application. SMSes with placement offers will be sent to parents from 4 September 2023
"We are working around the clock. We won't wait for January to try to find space. We already know we are doing multi-streamed to ensure that we increase the capacity of schools to ensure learners are placed across. 
"Still, we can say to parents that there has been a significant improvement in the system itself. The system is at best and best that we have currently," said MEC Chiloane. 
The department has discouraged applicants from using internet cafés to avoid errors but to instead go to any school, District Office or use one of the 80 Decentralised Walk-in Centres for assistance.
Parents are encouraged to apply to at least three schools and a maximum of five for each learner. 
"Applicants who have registered their details without applying to any school will not be considered for placement. 
"Parents and guardians must ensure that the information on the documents they provide matches the information they enter into the system when applying," said Chiloane. 
He said the system has assisted a lot, especially in chaotic situations, allowing applicants to submit applications from the comfort of their homes.
Furthermore, it provides accurate planning statistics for spaces, educational support for schools and reporting purposes.
"The system provides immediate access to data and statistics to facilitate a transparent admissions process. You know who got placed where.
"The system is the best we could have done. Our system is very big in the country. With such a big system, you need some form of technology advancement to ensure that it runs seamlessly," said the MEC. 
The system has a 99.5% placement rate and successfully processed the placement of over 350 000 learners ahead of the 2023 academic year.
In addition, the department has noted and incorporated input from stakeholders on how to improve the system. 
"We are hopeful that these implemented enhancements will be helpful to all applicants. 
"Accordingly, we must reiterate that capacity remains our challenge in Gauteng and a factor that applicants must always bear in mind when applying; without a doubt, we are working tirelessly to resolve the capacity challenge," the MEC added.