Christmas should be a time of joy and preparation for the new school year, but for thousands of Gauteng parents it has become a season of stress and uncertainty.
While many families are budgeting for uniforms and stationery, many parents cannot make plans while they wait for the Gauteng education department to place their children for the 2026 academic year.
Zanele Nkabinde, 33, from Phumula in Roodekop, was among the first parents to apply when the online admissions system opened in May this year. She applied for a grade 8 space for her daughter at Leondale High School, the closest school to their home. Seven months later, she has yet to receive a placement.
