Gauteng has received 805,688 applications for grade 1 and grade 8 places for the 2027 academic year, putting further pressure on the province to find enough space for pupils.

Gauteng faces mounting pressure on school capacity after receiving 805,688 Grade 1 and 8 applications for 2027, with Education MEC Lebogang Maile calling for a rethink.

Gauteng education MEC Lebogang Maile says figures highlight the immense scale of the department’s task