It’s 2049 and the winner of the general election for the president of the Western Cape has just been announced. Not only does he make history by being the youngest president to ever be elected into high office in South Africa, but his election marks the culmination of a vision that was formed in his 17-year-old mind when he was a grade 12 learner and a member of the Elsies River High School Gentleman’s Club.
His vision was shaped in the club of less than 100 learners and mentored by a visionary teacher, Nashville Blaauw Solomons (more about him to come in future editions), who inspired members to aspire to be real gentlemen, and men with honour and actualized responsibility to the community.
That vision was to unite the biggest population group in the Western Cape, the biggest voting bloc, the most politically traumatized group, the most marginalized group, and always, the group that never, ever lacked raw talent in all spheres of life. He knew, he needed to break down the barriers between the people and provide a message that everyone in the Flat Lands (Cape Flats) and beyond could get behind.
Now the political parties that dominated the bygone era have become a footnote in the history books. The desperately sad narrative brought about by the deep trauma of forced removals, orchestrated substance dependency, gang violence and poverty. That narrative that forced rational minds to continue to vote oppressors into power to continue the cycle of victimhood, is finally over and the generation of 2026 now preside over a new dawn for the people of the Flat Lands.
The Lioness Appears
Sitting in the reception area at Elsies River High, waiting to chat to Principal Velma Jackson, I become aware of a continuous stream of learners walking in and out of the reception area, some in groups, some alone. Several adults, some of them parents of learners, others teachers, come and go through the area, some whispering secrets, others being bombastic and attention seeking. It reminds me of a game drive I was on long ago. All the different animals were cavorting around the waterhole just like the scene above.
When Velma enters the area, everything goes quiet, those who don’t belong there scatter, suddenly knowing where they need to be. She doesn’t even have to roar. Velma’s name means “determined protector”, it is a variant of the name Wilhelmina, derived from the Germanic elements willo (will/desire) and helm (helmet/protection). Thanks Dr G.
“The Gentleman’s Club is an initiative we created to provide authentic guidance for male learners on the verge of manhood. One of the biggest challenges we face in our schools and surrounding communities is the lack of good male role models. What happens in our community households, impacts our learners in a very real way.”
“We also have a Girls For Healthy Lifestyle and Eating Club,” she says. I ask about the activities of the club and the name pretty much gives it away. However, what I find significant, and probably what lead to the election of the new president 20 years later, is that both clubs get involved in self-initiated community work. “Like providing soup kitchens and food parcels for those in need of it, and visits to the elderly, and community environmental clean-up activations, en so aan,” sê sy.
I’m thinking, I wonder if about 150 leaners out of more than 1600 will be enough to shift thinking and attitudes to bear the fruits we need to harvest 20 years later. I guess we’ll see.
We talk in-depth about the challenges and issues present in the community, and it is clear that the management and staff are well-aware of the impact of our particular set of socio-economic factors and how they affect learners’ mentally and their understanding of what healthy human relationships should look like.
“I have to say that our millennial teachers are bringing a different mind-set to the classroom. They are willing and able to go the extra mile, to have extra classes on weekends and public holidays, to visit parents, and to unpack what’s really behind a learners’ behaviour.”
The school’s pass-rate percentage over the last 3 years has been a bit up and down, going from as high as 86% to 80% and then dipping to 77%. I ask her if they are able to track the trend and find out what affects these numbers.
“The learner’s first influence happens with parents in the home, then in the community and then in primary school, followed by high school. Sometimes they come to us with unresolved trauma which manifests in the collective school experience. But we are aware of it and I am confident that the pass rate will improve this year,” says Velma.
There are various other notable achievements that the school has become known for. Its band has an envied reputation among other schools in the district and a quick search on Dr G threw up clip of a studio performance of the Elsies River School Band on the TV show Expresso.
As is the theme in our communities, we are awash with raw talent, and while we’ve always lacked competent and savvy mentors, the millennial guard, supported by some unselfish wise ones from the old guard are perfectly positioned to bring about the world we deserve, sooner than later.
Our buddy Dr G tells me that Elsies River was “probably” named after Elsje van Suurwaarde, who was “probably” a Dutch colonialist who farmed in this area in 1698, a time when slavery was firmly established in the Cape Colony. Following the introduction of enslaved people by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) in 1658, the colony relied heavily on imported slave labour from Madagascar, India, and Indonesia, with slaves working on farms and in the town.
I ask the newly elected president of the Western Cape, and alma mater of Elsies River High’s Gentleman’s Club what his first order of business will be. “Why, to ask the people to suggest a name change for our town that more accurately reflect who we are, of course.”
Nashville tells me that Elsies River High will be visiting Valhalla High soon, to present the Gentleman’s Club concept there. Watch this space for more on that development soon.
