The Gauteng Department of Education had to delay the launch of the online site for parents to apply for Grade 1 and Grade 8 places at schools for their children by at least two hours on Tuesday. At 9am‚ the Gauteng’s Online Schools Admission Programme was “80% ready”‚ and the province’s Education MEC Panyazi Lesufi said: “I am glad I took the decision to delay”.http://www.gdeadmissions.gov.za/The two-hour delay caused frustration for many parents of prospective Grade 1 and Grade 8 learners who were desperate to find places at schools for their children on Tuesday.The site was supposed to go live at 8am on Tuesday morning‚ after Lesufi assured media last week it would be ready‚ saying " bring it".His spokesperson Oupa Bodibe vowed on Monday: "We will be ready to roll at 8am."This was despite governing body organisations expressing concern in at least five meetings that the system would not work.Parents reported logging on to apply for places only to see an error message reading "Forbidden. Access is Denied."Lesufi took to Twitter to say the launch is being delayed while technicians “stress-test” the site.He also said that he took the decision to delay the site going live four minutes before 8am at the data centre‚ and that the “team is preparing” a media release.However‚ angry parents on Twitter have pointed out the site should have been stress-tested last week.Lesufi tweeted: "I would rather delay than be sorry. This is the future of our children. My sincere apologies."The Federation of Governing Bodies of SA Schools has prepared court papers to get an urgent high court interdict blocking the system should it fail.CEO Paul Colditz said the federation did not believe it would work because it crashed last week within an hour of going live.The system was malfunctioning on Monday night and suggesting schools for parents about 70km from where they reside.Many parents in Parkhurst and Weltevreden Park were suggested schools in Alberton‚ which is at least an hour's drive away.Parents are allocated to schools on a first-come‚ first-served basis‚ and are concerned that if the system fails they will not be high enough on the waiting list for their child to be admitted to an appropriate school.The governing body foundation had repeated meetings with the department asking that parents be allowed to queue at schools and apply the way they did in previous years. @Lesufi@ghoniball With all respect, what have you been doing since the circulars were distributed to the schools?? You dont get time— GREG HURVITZ (@GregHurvitz) April 19, 2016junk The Gauteng Education Online registration is a joke. It violates the rights of people who don't have access to technology. please stop this— Mashilo Matsetela (@pusetsi06) April 19, 2016junk My MEC @Lesufi was there no stress load testing done on the online registration system?— Sizwe Majavu (@Czwe81) April 19, 2016junk – TMG Digital/The Times..