The Class of 2016 in Madibane High School (MHS) IN Diepkloof has achieved a 100% pass rate even though the school was broken into almost every month.
Madibane High School is one of the oldest secondary schools in Soweto. The school was established in 1939 in Western Township. It relocated to Diepkloof in 1963 due to forceful removals and was named Madibane High after the then principal Harry Percival ‘The Shark” Madibane.
The Principal for the school, Lehlohono Molefe said, “I am humbled by our school’s showcase of excellence because we were supposed to be a write off school due to the series of robberies we experienced during 2016.”
The school produced honourable figures like Archbishop Desmond Tutu the former principal of Orlando High and Pace College, Professor Alosi Moloi an African languages specialist, and Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane the MEC for Community Safety. The school also took part in the 1976 riots for changing the education and apartheid system and produced student leaders like the late Abie Lebelo, Trofomo Sono, Makhulu Ledwaba, and the Minister of Women in the Presidency, Susan Shabangu.
Molefe said, Molefe said, “Due to monthly breakings in the school the department even said they have no funds to fix the dire damages. The learners have shown so much diligence and resilience nonetheless.”
The Gauteng Department of Education came through for the school maintained it and even fixed the previously burned classes.
Even though the target area was the office space, the staff showed dedication to the jobs. Molefe said, “We are not expecting any payment for doing our job. Our learners have made us so very proud.”
It has been 20 years since the school achieved such a result. There are still available registration spaces for parents whom would like to enrol their children in MHS.
