Disgruntled parents say GDE has failed them as they wait to have children placed at schools

JOHANNESBURG - With just a day until schools reopen, disgruntled parents who are desperate to get their children placed for the academic year say the Gauteng Education Department has failed them.

Parents in Roodepoort, west of Johannesburg, have been waiting in snaking queues outside the provincial education department’s district office in a bid to get help.

While many learners prepare to head to the classroom on Wednesday, Eyewitness News spoke to disgruntled parents outside the office who were complaining, among others, that their children were registered at schools far from where they live.  

Cars, camping chairs and umbrellas have filled the entrance of the District 12 offices in Roodepoort, as parents wait for hours, hoping for assistance from officials.

Some parents have spent the past two days queuing outside the office to get their children placed for the 2024 academic year, even though they claim to have applied on time through the department's application portal. 

"You don't even understand what's happening because, like especially for grade 8, you apply online, submit documents and go early but you won't be placed," one parent said.

A mother from Roodepoort, who asked not to be named, said her young child was placed at a school at least 30km away. 

"Since November last year, I've waited for that seven days up until now, I didn't know which school my son was supposed to go to. Yesterday, I was here and I was back here at 6am and I'm still here."

Following a number of emails and phone calls to the Gauteng Department of Education, she was advised to accept the placement.