Rietondale High celebrates six years of resilience
The past six years have demanded resilience from every corner of the Rietondale community. And yet, standing today, the Rietondale High School represents what South Africa itself often wrestles with: carrying the legacy of the past while choosing a future rooted in respect, inclusivity, and pride.
When a school carries a name tied to one of the darkest chapters of South Africa’s past, it carries a weight that stretches far beyond the classroom.
For decades, the institution once known as Hoërskool Hendrik Verwoerd stood in the heart of the Moot, a reminder of an era of exclusion.
Until 2019, the name made it nearly impossible to attract sponsorships, community backing or even basic donations. Parents already struggling to pay school fees saw the facilities deteriorate year after year.
The turning point came in August 2019 when the school embraced a bold new identity: Rietondale High School.
The decision symbolised transformation and inclusivity, but it was not without its battles.
“The very first night after the unveiling of our new name, the school was sabotaged,” recalled principal Debré Bam. “Paint was splashed across the entrance and signage. It was a stark reminder that change can meet fierce resistance.”
For months, even years, the community around the school regarded the new identity with suspicion. And yet, perseverance, the motto on their school’s emblem, carried the day.
Bam, who has served as principal since 2017, grew up in Delareyville in the North West Province. Influenced by her father’s liberal outlook, she entered education with the conviction that she wanted to help build a better South Africa after 1994.
A Blue Bulls supporter with a lifelong love for completed circles in life, she described becoming principal of Naas Botha’s alma mater as both an honour and a responsibility.
“When I was appointed, I was given the mandate that the name change must happen under my leadership,” Bam said. “It was a huge process with the language policy shifted to English medium only, and our learner body became truly multicultural. At that stage, our matric pass rate was 93%, but we were under the magnifying glass of the Gauteng Department of Education as well as the community to do better. Everything we did was scrutinised.”
Her leadership has been marked not only by resilience but by practical innovation.
The unsafe former swimming pool was converted into a secure parking area. A natural fountain on the property was rediscovered and incorporated into a drainage and water supply system, supplemented by a borehole and JoJo tanks.
“It means we never have to close the school when municipal water runs dry,” Bam explained.
Three technology laboratories were also established, helping to push the matric pass rate to 99% by 2024.
But the journey was never easy. Years of deferred maintenance and the absence of donor funding left deep holes to fill.
In 2024, the school faced a major financial blow when the main staircase was declared unsafe. Rebuilding it cost over R2-million, with no assistance from the Gauteng Department of Education.
Despite these challenges, the spirit of Rietondale High never dimmed. The rugby field now boasts new floodlights, and plans are underway to develop AstroTurf hockey fields. The choir achieved third place overall in the ATKV Applous national finale, bringing fresh pride to learners and staff. On the sports field, achievements like rugby and athletics stand out.
“The Lord is very good to us,” Bam added. “We have a well-functioning school governing body that celebrates our successes with us. The school is once again the heart of the community.”
For learners, the transformation is still felt every day.
Head prefect Ephraim Terega said, “The school and the school community feel inclusive. People understand each other and do not discriminate against each other. Respect for all is a value from the ground up. Since Grade 8, we have been prepared for life. With the right equipment available, like the floodlights, we know the school is investing in our future.”
For others, it has been a deeply personal experience to attend the school.
Grade 12 learner and head girl, Mia Malga, reflected: “The school has taught me perseverance. The last five years have formed me. If it were not for Rietondale, I would not have considered furthering my learning and going to university.”
As the school prepares to launch the Moot Perseverance Festival on August 23, the celebration will carry far more meaning than a day of sport and food.
It will be a testament to the learners who carried hope, the teachers who gave more than they had, the parents who supported with faith, and the principal who dared to lead through change.
“The process was never just about a name,” Bam concludes. “It was about showing our learners that transformation is possible, that perseverance brings results, and that Rietondale High School can stand as a place where every child feels valued. That is what we celebrate now.”
– Rietondale High School invites all to a day of fun, food, and festivities at the Moot Volhard Fees – Perseverance Festival on August 23, from 10:00 to 20:00. The event will be hosted on the school’s sports fields, on the corner of 18 Avenue and Pierneef Street in Deerness, Pretoria. Expect a thrilling Rugby 7s Tournament, food trucks and market stalls, a live K9 awareness demonstration at 17:00 and much more.
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