Western Cape Education Department faces criticism despite placing thousands of learners

The Western Cape Education Department has confirmed that over 26 000 learners have been placed across the province with 1870 who have yet to be accommodated. Education watchdogs and political parties have criticised the numbers, citing it was not a true reflection of the reality faced by many.

Bronagh Hammond, Director of Communications for the WCED said that since the beginning of January 2026, the Western Cape Education Department(WCED) has placed 26 312 Grade R, 1, and 8 learners across the province.

"This is in addition to the tens of thousands of learners placed during 2025. Despite having placed 96% of all learners who applied last year including late applications submitted up to December 10 — the WCED experienced an unprecedented number of new extremely late applications at the start of 2026," Hammond explained.

She added that since the beginning of January 2026, the WCED received 25 065 new, extremely late applications for Grades R, 1 and 8.

As of February 6, 2026, for Grade 8, the WCED has placed 99.6% of learners for whom applications were received, with placement in progress for 396 learners.

The department said in Grade 1, placement is in progress for 326 learners, representing a placement rate of over 99% and for Grade R, placement is in progress for 1 148 learners. 13 905 extremely late applications were received for Grade R this year.

"With schools having only reopened on the January 14, our officials have worked extremely hard to place learners as quickly as possible," she explained.

"The fact that more than 26 000 placements have been made within four weeks is a remarkable accomplishment by our team.

"The WCED has consistently communicated that the 10th school day is a critical milestone in the admissions process.

"It allows schools to confirm actual attendance through physical headcounts, deregister learners who have not arrived; and identify available spaces for rapid placement.

"While it is always preferable for all learners to be in school on the first day, the reality is that late applications require time.

"Officials must consult with School Governing Bodies (SGBs), negotiate available spaces, and finalise administrative processes that would normally take months now condensed into just a few days."

She said while they celebrated the placement of tens of thousands of learners in an exceptionally short period, they remained mindful that new extremely late applications continue to arrive daily.

Hammond stated these are being handled with urgency, and appealed to the public to allow officials the space to complete  this work.

"The WCED remains committed to ensuring that every learner in the Western Cape has access to a place in school as quickly as possible."

Vanessa le Roux, founder of Parents for Equal Education (Peesa) challenged the numbers stating that she was inundated with calls and messages from parents who were desperately seeking to place their children.

"It is time that the WCED must start telling truth, and stop leaving parents and learners in limbo, these "extremely late" applications they refer to is not the truth,  just last week, I sent a non-placement to them, I had the details of when the parents applied, yet they marked him under a late application," she said.

"It was clear these people applied on time, and like any other parent that applied on time, received the feedback back in June, they should stop playing with numbers, what they now portray, I believe is the amount from the start, they should try and put the interest of children before their own brand."

Brett Herron, GOOD Secretary-General & MP stated the annual issue of learner placement was attributed to poor planning but welcomed the development.

"Admission issues are sometimes a consequence of the school in the learner’s neighborhood not having capacity and parents being reluctant to place their child in a school far from their home," he told Cape Argus.

"The reasons for this are obvious.The admissions pressure experienced by the Education Department is as a result of the poor spatial planning and the underinvestment in education by the Western Cape Government. 

"The announcement that the department has managed to place most of the unplaced learners is welcomed."

Just days ago, Khalid Sayed, ANC leader in the Western Cape Opposition cautioned the department, referring to a a court finding: "We wish to remind the Department that this delay comes in the context of a recent Western Cape High Court judgment, which found that the WCED’s learner admissions system has systemically discriminated against black and marginalised learners, particularly those applying late or transferring schools.

"The court confirmed that all learners, regardless of late applications, migration, or socioeconomic status, must have access to education without undue delay, and that the department has a constitutional obligation to plan proactively, manage placements effectively, and provide transparency."

Sayed said learner placement is not a technical exercise, it is a fundamental right and a matter of dignity, equality, and fairness.

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