Tiger Kloof to honour Builders of Botswana
WeekendLife
By Dave Baaitse
Former President Masire, icons Archie Mogwe, Dr Chiepe (pictured) in attendance
Later this year there will be a day of celebration and nostalgia at Tiger Kloof, the historic school in South Africa's North West Province, which once educated so many of the great nation builders of this republic.
Tiger Kloof school was opened in 1904 by the London Missionary Society, but after the passing of the Bantu Education Act in 1953 the missionaries withdrew and the school was eventually abandoned in 1962.
It reopened in 1995 and the major buildings have been gradually restored. On October 16th the Institution opens the newly restored Old Tigers' Hall, which was once the girls' dining hall. It had been derelict for 52 years until last year, when a grant from the Anglo American Chairman's Fund enabled the wonderful old building to be transformed into a fabulous multi-purpose facility.
It is to be dedicated to the Old Tigers who were so instrumental in the founding of this country and who played leading roles in the struggle in South Africa. Their pictures will adorn the walls to enable the current Tigers to gain an appreciation of their proud history.
Guests of honour at the occasion will include Archbishop Desmond Tutu, whose mother was a girl at the school. He will be dedicating a room in her name. Former president of Botswana Sir Quett Masire will be present, along with fellow icons of Botswana Archie Mogwe and Dr Gaositwe Chiepe.
In order to raise awareness for the event and to celebrate Tiger Kloof's historic association with Botswana, the Director of the Institution, Mark Boobbyer, is planning to walk from Botswana to Tiger Kloof at the beginning of October, a distance of about 200 kms. The group will include current students at the school who come from Botswana. “We are very proud of our links with Botswana and the walk is to draw attention to that relationship.
“On October 16th we will be reminded once again of the wonderful legacy that was left by Tiger Kloof and the extraordinary generation of its former students who went on to be world statesmen of great stature and personal integrity. We are so proud that their foundations, and thus the foundations of Botswana, were laid at Tiger Kloof”, said Boobbyer.
All old Tigers are invited to come on the day and it is hoped that there will be a large turnout of former students from before 1962, as well as those who have attended the Institution since it reopened in 1995.
Any old Tigers who would like information about the event and how to obtain tickets are asked to either contact Louise Fouche on louisetigerkloof@gmail.com (0027 82 7716174) or Phillimon Magwape on philmagwape@gmail.com (071 304163).
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