Cape Town - Generations of Trafalgar High School alumni gathered with past and present staff to celebrate the rich history of the now 110-year-old institution, which has produced some of the finest defenders of human rights in the country.
South Africa’s first high school for people of colour, and subsequent space for political education and activism, Trafalgar High School, celebrated its 110th anniversary on Saturday in the school’s hall.
The school, located in District Six, was established on January 12, 1912, with assistance from African Political Organisation president Dr Abdullah Abdurahman and Harold Cressy, the first coloured man to obtain a BA degree at UCT and the school’s first principal.
In its first year, the school had 60 students, 32 of whom were girls, and five teachers.
Some of the school's alumni include former Justice Minister and anti-apartheid activist Dullah Omar, retired Judge Siraj Desai, advocate Bennie Kies, and medical practitioner Dr Rhodia Gool, joining other notable figures in the field of politics, sport, medicine, science, business and education.
Guest speakers included Desai and current principal Salwa Southgate.
“We honoured and paid tribute to our past teachers, legends and pupils and all those who made huge sacrifices to make Trafalgar this wonderful institution that it is today. Those in attendance enjoyed performances by current learners. The school choir and school band,” Southgate said.
While District Six was marred by apartheid forced removals, plans to move or close the school never came to fruition.
Southgate said the school survived numerous attempts by the then apartheid government to close it down but those efforts were thwarted by influential “Transfalgarians”.
Former principal Nadeem Hendricks said there had been plans to close the school and turn it into a naval headquarters, during apartheid.
Hendricks appealed to the public to support the application of the school to be declared a national heritage.
Event MC, the Cape Heritage Museum curator and human rights attorney Igshaan Higgins, said the school with its motto “Per Angusta Ad Augusta” (Through Difficulties to Success) as an education institution has contributed to the academic, social and political development of thousands of individuals from all walks of life.
“During apartheid we were all victims of an oppressive regime that caused huge suffering and poverty. Trafalgar High taught us to find our purpose during the dark days of pre-liberation and become active in shaping the new South Africa.
“This new place did not appear by any natural law. It was created by connected thoughts and actions of myriad individuals who had the passion to make the world a better place for all. Trafalgar produced many of the aforesaid individuals.”
Western Cape Education Department spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said it was the first high school for children of colour in the southern hemisphere at a time when education for coloured people was limited to mission schools and primary education only.
“Since then, it has been a beacon of resistance, activism, culture, excellence and resilience and has produced scores of eminent and distinguished scholars, professionals, sportsmen and activists. It continues to strive for education excellence and social justice today.”