Monday, March 10th, 2025
Don't wait, do it now!
School applications open
APPLICATIONS for admission for learners attending Grade R, 1 and 8 in the Western Cape in 2026 opens on Tuesday, 11 March 2025.
The last day for applications is Tuesday, 15 April 2025.
“We encourage all parents of learners who will be entering Grade R, 1 or 8 next year to apply on time,” said the Western Cape Minister of Education, David Maynier.
The following documents are required to make an application:
Identity document or birth certificate of the learner;
Foreign learners: a passport or a copy of parent’s refugee or asylum seeker permit on which the learner’s name should appear;
If the learner has foreign parents but was born in South Africa: a handwritten birth certificate (DHA 19 form); or
If the learner was not born in South Africa: a passport or a refugee or asylum seeker permit issued in the learner’s name.
Immunisation card or Road to Health chart – applicable to pre-primary and primary schools only.
Latest official school report or academic report.
Proof of residence e.g. rates account/lease agreement/an affidavit made at a police station confirming residence.
If any of these documents are unavailable, parents can submit a police affidavit indicating this in place of the missing document.
Applications are to be submitted online, and documents will need to be scanned and uploaded to the online admissions system, which is zero-rated for data.
The admissions system, as well as background information and step-by-step guides on how to apply, are available here: https://www.westerncape.gov.za/education/service/learner-admissions
Parents will not have to drop off certified hard copies of the documents when they apply. They will only submit certified hard copies to the school once they have been offered, and have accepted, a place in a school. (Source: Western Cape Department of Education)
50 000 use new crime fighting tech
No need to panic
More than 51 000 residents of Gauteng have to date used the province’s e-Panic Button in emergency situations.
According to the province’s e-Government Department, since its launch in April 2024, the e-Panic Button has been downloaded more than 100 000.
“The most common incidents where people have been assisted include motor vehicle accidents, assaults, shootings and sexual offences.
“The leading Gauteng regions with the most recorded incidents are Johannesburg with over 21 000 callouts, Ekurhuleni with over 11 000 and Tshwane with over 10 000 callouts,” the department said.
Gauteng e-Government MEC Bonginkosi Dhlamini hailed the e-Panic Button as an important tool for helping to fight crime and deal with emergencies for Gauteng residents.
“It is without a doubt that the e-Panic Button is making a difference in our communities.
“Our team is always ready to attend to residents when they call for help. Our turnaround time to deploy ambulances or armed response is between 7 – 10 minutes,” Dhlamini said.
The e-Panic Button can be downloaded from the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. (Source: SAnews.gov.za)