Potchefstroom Gimnasium is a

public In public relations and communication science, publics are groups of individual people, and the public (a.k.a. the general public) is the totality of such groupings. This is a different concept to the sociological concept of the ''Öffentlichk ...

Afrikaans medium co-educational high School in Potchefstroom,

North West The points of the compass are a set of horizontal, radially arrayed compass directions (or azimuths) used in navigation and cartography. A compass rose is primarily composed of four cardinal directions—north, east, south, and west—each sepa ...

, South Africa.

Beginnings

It was founded in 1907, by the Theological Centre of the Reformed Church of South Africa. Dutch was the language of teaching. The founders committee existed of Kamp, J., Duvenage, A.P.C, Lion Cachet, J., Postma, F. and du Toit, J.D. The school started in the Theological Centre's Library. The first Head Master was Coetsee, J.A.A. He was head master until 1938.

Head Masters

Head masters to follow: Kruger, W.deK. (1938-1965), Combrink, A.J. (1965-1974), Kruger, A.B.J. (1974-1979), Dreyer, L.A. (1979-1982), Grobler, A.N. (1982-1985), Janson, C.A. (1986-1999) and Breed, J. (2000-2008). Oosthuizen, R.A. (2009-2021). Van der Merwe, FW is the current head master since February 2022.

Changes through the years

* The first hostel was built in 1907. * The school was first known as “Voorbereidende Skool”.(Translated: preparatory school) On 13 November 1914 it changed its name too Potchefstroom Gimnasium. * The school became a government school in 1915 and was not ruled by the church any more. * In 1916 it changed the language medium to Afrikaans. * From 1917 to 1920 J Chris Coetzee taught at the school. He later became rector of the

Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education The Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education (abbreviated as PU for CHE) was a South African university located in Potchefstroom. Instruction was mainly in Afrikaans. In 2004, the university was merged with other institutions to c ...

. * In May 1947 it moved to its own building.

Motto and crest

The motto is “Fac et Spera”, which is Latin for “Work and Hope”. This was taken out of the Dutch States Bible. The crest existed out of an anchor (a symbol of hope). The other two instruments are a pick and a shovel (symbols of work)

Hostels

The school has two hostels: * Boys- Brandwag * Girls- Cachet

Alumni

Tjaart Marais Tjaart Marais was a South African rugby fly-half and still played in the era when rugby was an amateur sport. Education Marais was born on 21 July 1961. He matriculated on Potchefstroom Gimnasium and went on to complete his undergraduate studies ...

(born 1961)- Rugby Fly-half for Western Transvaal and scored 703 Currie Cup points in his career. *

Henriette Grové Hester Henriette Grové(née Venter) (September 26, 1922 - December 15, 2009) was a South African writer of African origin. She was married to the literary critic A.P. Grové. She is best known for her short stories and her plays. She is one o ...

(1922-2009)– Writer * Greta Jones (1965-1992)- Singer *

Theuns Eloff Theuns Eloff (born 17 May 1955) is a South African, who is the ex-Executive Director of the FW de Klerk Foundation, an ex-Rector and an ex-Reconciler. Beginnings He was born on 17 May 1955 in Potchefstroom. He completed his school career at P ...

(born 1955) - Ex- vice Chancellor of the

and Executive Director of the

FW de Klerk Foundation The FW de Klerk Foundation is a nonpartisan organisation that was established in 1999 by former South African president Frederik Willem de Klerk. It promotes activities in "multi-community" countries and seeks to nurture the democracy of South A ...

. *

Theo Jansen van Rensburg Jan Theodorus 'Theo' Jansen van Rensburg (born 26 August 1967, in Carletonville), is a former South African rugby union player who played for the South Africa national rugby union team. He played as fullback. Playing career Provincial rugby Va ...

(born 1967)- springbok rugby player (full-back) * Jan Brand van Rooyen de Wet (born 1950) –Singer *

Ockert Potgieter Ockert Potgieter (Ukrainian: Окерт Потгітер; 11 December 1965 – 11 October 2021) was a South African missionary in Ukraine and a film director. Education Potgieter completed his school years at Potchefstroom Gimnasium. He stu ...

(1965-2021) - South African Missionary in the Ukraine. and movie director

International connection

Since 2005 the school has a long-term agreement with a Swedish school, Växjö Fria Gimnasium. Each year, eight students are selected who together with students from the Swedish school form a working group focusing on development work in schools in South Africa's townships. They organize different fundraising projects and help in practical construction and repair of Schools.

Performances

* Academic- The best school in the

Province in 2018. * Best academic school in the country in 2017. * The school was the overall Provincial winner of athletics in 2018. * In 1967 se schools rugby team was the best in the country.

References

{{reflist High schools in South Africa Schools in North West (South African province)