HF Verwoerd school in Moot to change name
“The importance of this transformation for our school, our children and the community as a whole, cannot be stressed enough.”
Hendrik Verwoerd High School, named after the so-called “father of Apartheid”, will be changing its name soon – more than 23 years since South Africa’s first democratic elections.
Submissions for a suggestion for a new name closed on Monday. The school had been accepting suggestions since February.
“Everybody – learners, teachers, parents, residents and past learners – with a vested interest was invited to take part in picking the new name,” said school governing body president Olga Veldsman.
She said a few names were short-listed for the department of education’s approval.
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“We are governed and guided by the stipulations set out by the department in considering a name for the school,” she said.
“The importance of this transformation for our school, our children and the community as a whole, cannot be stressed enough.”
The school’s governing body submitted a declaration of intent to change its name to the department back in July 2016.
Veldsman said the name change was delayed when longstanding principal Hennie du Toit retired and the governing body wanted to have a new principal in place before continuing.
“The period of uncertainty that usually accompanies big changes like this requires strong leadership from the principal and the student governing body president,” she said.
A new principal, Debré Bam, was appointed in October and the school “could finally proceed with the process”.
“The school is 100 percent committed to the values and goals set out by the department,” said Veldsman.
“We have proved over many years our school is committed to serving the community in an integrated and completely non-racial society.”
This comes after the provincial department of education in March 2016 set a September deadline for all schools named after apartheid leaders to change their names.
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When Hendrik Verwoerd High School missed the deadline, student body Cosas put pressure on education MEC Panyaza Lesufi to rename all the schools that were yet to comply.
Cosas accused Lesufi of dragging his feet.
Hendrik Verwoerd was South Africa’s prime minister from 1958 until his assassination in 1966, and is considered to be the founder of apartheid.
The department of education could not be reached for comment.
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