More than 1.2 million learners in the Western Cape took their seats when the school bells rang out on Wednesday morning.
The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) confirmed that of that tally, more than 73,000 learners started grade R; 102,000 started grade 1; and 97,000 started grade 8. The department noted that these are provisional figures, with more learners expected to enrol, whereafter an official head count will take place later this month.
Premier Alan Winde joined MEC David Maynier at Tamboerskloof Primary School to mark the first day of school, engaging with learners, parents and educators.
SmileFM also visited the school and spoke to Principal Randal Abrahams who shared his excitement about having the learners return and having the Premier and MEC there for the big day.
“I see their smiling faces, the excitedness around the first day. Also very honoured to have the MEC as well as the Premier here today to honour and to recognise all the hard work that Tamboerskloof Primary has put in the last year, and just basically to come and say thank you to the teachers and the personnel here at Tamboerskloof Primary for everything that we did for our learners. And we are looking forward to 2026 to maintaining that standard, if not better those standards as well,” said Abrahams.
Speaking to SmileFM, Winde referenced the success of the 2025 academic year in the Western Cape, noting that he is optimistic about the academic year ahead.
“I’m looking forward to this year. We’ve got to take it again to the next level. And it’s always great to be at day one… What blows me away every year is the confidence in these young learners when they’re walking into school. It bodes very well for our future,” said Winde.
Maynier told SmileFM that he, too, was excited to see the new and returning learners kick off the 2026 school year.
“It’s been wonderful to see the learners arrive ready and eager to attend school and of course it’s been wonderful also to meet the parents who are here to support their learners,” said Maynier.
While there is excitement, there continues to be ongoing pressure on the provincial education system to place learners. Maynier noted that to date, 7,540 learners still needed a spot in a school.
“I understand that this is a frustrating time for some parents, but I really do want to give parents the assurance that we will be working together with districts and schools and of course parents to ensure that every learner has a place at a school here in the Western Cape,” Maynier told SmileFM.
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As such, Winde and the WCED emphasised that infrastructure expansion remains a key focus.
The department noted, in a statement, that nine newly built schools have been fully completed for 2026 and will be opened in a phased approach, with the first phase of two additional high schools in Khayelitsha and Kuils River opening. In total, there are an additional 175 new classrooms, with further construction underway.
“A further 21 classrooms are in construction by School Governing Bodies, using funding provided by the WCED,” read the WCED statement.
Winde said that with a turn in the economy and more money in the budget, he’s hopeful that the WCED will get more funding to build more schools.
“Because we’ve seen a year without load shedding, because we’ve seen a turn in the economy, that will mean that we’re getting a better share of taxes coming in, which enables us to build again more schools, employ more teachers, create more opportunity,” Winde told SmileFM.
Both Maynier and Winde wished the teachers and school staff, as well as the learners, well for the year ahead.
Meanwhile, the WCED continues to urge parents still seeking a place in a school for their child to contact their district office immediately.
“We will continue to work to place all children seeking a place in our schools. This is a challenging task, as hundreds of new applications are arriving each week. We understand that this will be a frustrating period for some of our parents, but we assure them that we will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to find places for every learner in the Western Cape,” read the department’s statement.
