Some Kimberley parents still scrambling for school placements as 2026 school year starts

WHILE the queues were not as long outside the Northern Cape Department of Education’s district offices in Kimberley on Wednesday, a number of parents were still searching for suitable placements for their children as schools opened for the new year.

Two Grade 10 pupils sat forlornly on the steps of the district offices on Wednesday, dressed in their uniforms and clutching their school bags, as they had not yet found a school.

Their parents said they had visited Thabane High School and Tetlanyo High School since the beginning of the week in search of placements.

“They kept on telling us to come back, so we bought their uniforms, but on January 15 we were informed that there is no space,” they said.

The mother of a Grade 10 pupil, Michelle Booysen, said she was sent from pillar to post as her child was still sitting at home.

“The department told us to search for our own placement, and all the schools are full. My feet hurt from walking from school to school. The schools sent us back to the department. My child was placed at a school in Roodepan, but we moved to town and it will be too far to travel every day,” Booysen said.

Faith Xaba, who relocated to Kimberley from Johannesburg for work purposes, said her daughter was placed at a school where Setswana and isiXhosa are used as mediums of instruction, while she is Zulu-speaking.

A Grade 1 parent said she was awaiting the outcome of her appeal as she wanted to enrol her daughter at Kimberley Junior School.

The aunt of two Grade 8 pupils said she was struggling to find placements for her niece and nephew.

“They relocated to Kimberley from Graaff-Reinet as they were victims of bullying. They were placed at a school in Galeshewe, while William Pescod High School is right on the corner of my house. My niece, 13, and nephew, 15, are in Grade 8 and they only understand English and Afrikaans. I do not have funds to transport them to and from school.”

The parent of a Grade 8 pupil, Mashabelo Melton, said he was unhappy that his son had been placed at William Pescod High School.

“We stay in town and applied for Northern Cape High School and Kimberley Boys’ High School. I want my son to attend a school with strong discipline. If another suitable placement cannot be found, I will rather homeschool him.”

Another parent complained that foreign nationals were placed before locals.

“It is as if we are visitors in our own country. More English-medium schools should be built because the population is growing,” the parent said.

‘School of choice’

Northern Cape Department of Education spokesperson Geoffrey van der Merwe said all pupils in the Frances Baard District had been placed.

“There is unhappiness over the school of choice. Late admissions are placed at schools with available space and are not given an option to choose their school,” he said.

He added that a 10-day snapshot would be conducted to determine capacity and the availability of space and resources.

“Mobile classrooms, additional educators and learning support materials will be provided where needed.”

Van der Merwe said the department administered the admissions of Grade R, 1 and 8.

“Parents from other grades should approach the schools directly for placements.”

He explained that online admissions submitted from April 15 to May 23, 2025, had all been placed.

“Parents and guardians have a right to appeal, although this process will take some time.”

He advised that pupils start the new school year at the school where they were placed.

“It is recommended that pupils begin learning and teaching at the start of the school year and not wait until the appeal process is finalised.”

Snapshot survey to identify shortages

Van der Merwe said the provincial Department of Education had placed a total of 30,818 pupils in the Northern Cape.

“We do acknowledge that we have 188 learners that are still unplaced for Grade R, 1 and 8 in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District due to late admissions.

“Our district offices will conduct a 10-day snapshot survey to determine the challenges and shortcomings at schools. We are also conducting a headcount of pupils at schools to verify available school space.”

He said the department had fulfilled its constitutional responsibility by ensuring that learners of compulsory school-going age were placed at a school.

“We have indicated from the onset that we cannot guarantee preferred schools or preferential placements.”

Van der Merwe added that a major challenge had been reported at Pella RK Primary School in the Namakwa District due to a lack of electricity.

“Our infrastructure unit is attending to the situation, and the contractor is on site as the electrical problem is located at the school.”

He wished educators, learners and support staff a productive academic year and encouraged them to continue to “raise the bar of education in the Northern Cape”.

Meanwhile, the MEC for Education, Abraham Vosloo, addressed pupils at Homevale High School and Emmanuel High School at the start of the academic year.

He welcomed back educators, learners and support staff.

Members of the Northern Cape provincial government, members of the provincial legislature, mayors and councillors visited schools across the province to monitor and assess the state of readiness.