• The Limpopo Department of Education has warned parents that submitting false information to cheat placements at schools in the province is a criminal offense.
• This as 1 600 learners from the province are still to be placed two weeks into the start of classes.
• It said that some parents are submitting fake addresses to be placed in schools outside of their feeder zones.

The Limpopo Department of Education is warning parents to stop sending in falsified documents in order to secure placement at schools outside of their allotted zones as the government works through a backlog of learners yet to be placed two weeks into the school year.

In a statement, the department said that over 1 600 learners from the Polokwane, Mokopane, Tzaneen, and Lephalale zones were yet to be placed at schools. The highest number of unplaced learners were in grades 1 and 8.

“Majority of the applicants were not admitted last year because their applications did not meet the set criteria, but they were afforded a chance to appeal,” it said.

The department claims that some parents are still submitting falsified documents and fraudulent addresses in bids to secure space for their children at schools which are not in their regions and feeder zones.

It is now warning “parents and caregivers to desist from falsifying documents as this is a criminal act, fraudulent and can result in cases being opened with the police. Parents are cautioned not to embark on a forceful admissions of their children.”

Falsifying documents also makes it more difficult for the department to sift through applications, further delaying the process to place learners at Limpopo schools.

It says the backlog that it is working through includes appeals and late applications it received early 2025 when schools re-opened. It claims that all unplaced learners will be allocated a space on or before 29th January.

“Parents and guardians are urged to exercise patience and allow the department to finalise the admission process,” it said.

“The department wishes to assure parents that all qualifying learners will be admitted within the circuits where they reside and Transport will be provided for those who will be allocated spaces outside the 5 kilometres radius.”