Gauteng’s online school registration deadline passes, parents angry over delay

Panyaza Lesufi’s prayers appeared not to have been answered.

Following the announcement of a two-hour delay to the Gauteng Department of Education’s online schools admissions for Grade 1 and Grade 8 learners for 2017 on Tuesday‚ the 10am resumption of service did not happen.

The site was supposed to go live at 8am on Tuesday morning‚ after Education MEC Lesufi assured media last week it would be ready‚ saying "bring it".

Instead‚ eager applicants received this message at https://www.gdeadmissions.gov.za/:

“Dear Parents/Guardians “Kindly take note that we will now go live at 10am. “Sincere Apologies “MEC Lesufi

Lesufi had earlier on Tuesday tweeted: “Dear Parents‚ I am now receiving the final brief that will determine everything. Pray for me. Will update you later. I am hopeful”.

At 9am‚ an hour before the revised deadline‚ Lesufi said it was “80% ready”‚ and added: “I am glad I took the decision to delay”.

That it hadn’t gone live as planned angered thousands of parents who vented their frustration on social media and appeared to justify governing body organisations’ concerns‚ expressed in at least five meetings‚ that the system would not work.

Lesufi took to Twitter to face irate parents‚ inlcluding NancyKLegodi @NancyKgaphola‚ who tweeted: “@Lesufi Mr MEC‚ this online system is not working out and it's very frustrating for parents...There's always a technical problem”‚ to which he replied: “ I share your frustrations but remember you will be the last person as generations to come will be fine forever”.

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 is there a no we can call to assist with online registration?I cannot reg learner, it says he exists but I cannot link him 2 me?

— Mamatse (@Sthaweni) April 19, 2016

Lesufi's office been on here for days now answering questions from concerned parents on new school application process in Gauteng.Service

— Nobesuthu Cele (@ma_Ndosi) April 19, 2016

– TMG Digital/The Times