According to the department's spokesperson, Geoffrey van der Merwe, parents who have applied for school space at the same school their child previously attended, need not reapply as automatic placement is granted. 

OFM News previously reported that the Northern Cape has a limited capacity for Grade R learners. Therefore, a number of grade R parents may need to make use of Community-based Centres (ECD) for the 2021 school academic year. 

Van der Merwe adds that the Education Department has set up walk-in centres in all districts and urge all parents to make use of them.

Furthermore, he states that district officers have made good progress to ensure that academic placement offers have been sent out. 

A learner, specifically in middle grades, will be granted school space without having to submit a new application if they wish to stay at the same school. Based on this, Van der Merwe says the parents of such learners can ignore the unsuccessful SMS that they will receive from the Department. In this case, parents need not appeal.  

The department requests parents' assistance to either accept or decline the offers of placement within a 7-day window period. 

Van der Merwe emphasises that failure to do so will result in the department placing the learner.

OFM News/ Shirndré-Lee Simmons