Earlier in the year,
Daily Maverick published an open letter written by Ben Horowitz, an old boy from Highlands North Boys’ High School in Johannesburg.
In the letter, which he wrote before the 40th reunion of his 1981 matric class, Horowitz wrote of the toxic culture embedded in the school at the time.
He made a call to all the old boys from that year to make a positive contribution and pledge money to support some of the school’s needs.
From left, Old boy Mike Berkiser, principal Mike Masinge and a representative from the education district, Anickey Mashaba, officially open the new classroom built with contributions made by old boys of Highlands North High School on 7 May 2021. (Photo: Ayanda Mthethwa / Daily Maverick)
weekly newspaper.
A memorial frame with a list of past rugby captains at Highlands North Boys High School is acutely telling of the transformation undergone by the school since it was established in 1939. But where have all the white learners gone?
Enclosed in the leafy suburb of Highlands North, known for its high-walled dwellings that sell for millions of rand, sits Highlands North Boys High School – a 33-classroom government school that has been in existence for more than 80 years.
Known as one of the top rugby schools in Johannesburg, Highlands North was once an all-white school attended by a mix of Jewish, English, Italian, Lebanese and Portuguese boys from working-class communities. Today, it serves learners from Alexandra, Soweto and the Vaal.