First mixed-race school in South Africa celebrates Youth Day with its ‘seedling of change’

A tree has bore witness to the difference South Africa’s first mixed-race school made in the fight against apartheid.

*It was the first school set up at the outset to be multi-racial.

Crawford College North Coast last week celebrated June 16 by erecting a plaque at the school’s 34-year-old Flatcrown tree that was planted the year the school opened in 1986 on the 10th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising, so that every pupil, teacher and visitor would know its history.

First called uThongathi – meaning a place of significance – the school’s name changed when it was sold to Crawford Schools in 1997.

However, it still upholds its central beliefs: student empowerment, social responsibility, self-acceptance and being non-racial in every aspect.

Addressing the first assembly of the school in 1986 the then principal, Richard Thompson, said: “Today we are the only school in South Africa which is truly non-racial. The whole of South Africa will be watching us very carefully because we are doing something completely new. Today we are starting a new era in education in South Africa. A school where the colour of your skin is completely unimportant.”

Standing in defiance of the then apartheid government, staff and pupils sang Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika – banned at the time.

Today, 34 years later, the tree towers over students and staff from all walks of life, evident of the values the school has held so dear since its construction.

During the commemoration, Petros Dlamini – who planted the tree – was there to unveil the plaque erected in honour of the school and staff’s efforts to build an all-inclusive society.

Former uThongathi pupil Zarina Moorad recalled that as pupils they knew of the challenges faced by society at the time but, that they were encouraged to believe that they could be challenged and overcome.

“All we needed was to come together. We loved whoever we loved, whoever his or her parents were,” said Zarina, adding that she was proud to be part of a school which made true inclusivity a reality.

*NOTE: uThongathi opened its doors as the first school to allow mixed-race students at the outset.

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