Gauteng education officials warned parents about fraudsters demanding payments for school placements ahead of the 2026 academic year. Department representatives specifically identified an individual using the name Godfrey who falsely claims authority to secure spots in public schools. Over 738,000 applications for Grade 1 and Grade 8 placements were processed through the official online system, with offers still being issued daily. Authorities stressed no employee can bypass the automated placement process for money.
The department reiterated that all admissions follow strict criteria based on home addresses, sibling links, and school capacity. Parents receiving placement offers should accept them through official channels without delay. Any suspicious requests for payment must be reported immediately to the Gauteng education contact center. MEC Matome Chiloane reminded families that legitimate placements require no financial transactions. Officials confirmed they visit residences to verify address documents, rejecting applications with fraudulent information. This caution comes after similar scams emerged during earlier application phases this year.
The department reiterated that all admissions follow strict criteria based on home addresses, sibling links, and school capacity. Parents receiving placement offers should accept them through official channels without delay. Any suspicious requests for payment must be reported immediately to the Gauteng education contact center. MEC Matome Chiloane reminded families that legitimate placements require no financial transactions. Officials confirmed they visit residences to verify address documents, rejecting applications with fraudulent information. This caution comes after similar scams emerged during earlier application phases this year.
