MH Greef great at 80

The school that will soon mark 80 years of educational service in Namibia, especially in the Khomasdal area, came to existence through the sheer force and demands of the local coloured people that wanted a space where their children could be taught amongst others that were like them.
Up to 1936, there were no separate schools for coloured Namibians in Windhoek district, which soon became a problem for the coloured families that were living in the area at the time. The problem prompted the leaders of the coloured groups, who had already requested the then Administrator of South West Africa in 1935 to establsih their own school for their children.
After many negotiations with the then Union Government and the Municipality of Windhoek, a German building available in Church Street was used for the school premises. The school began in the fourth quarter of 1936 and was known as the ‘Goewermentskleurlingskool’, with 93 pupils from grade 1 to grade 6. The staff at the time included the founding principal, C.H. Dieddericks as well as H.C.B van Wyk and L. Le Pere as assistants.
In 1937, the number of pupils rose to 119 and a new head of the school was appointed, namely Mr C.H.J Schutte until 1943. The first School Committee was appointed in 1941. They were H. Vries, D. Petersen, J. Seboa, W. Plaatjes. The group was part of the initial seven that fought for a school for their children.
In 1946, the first coloured warden namely Mr M. Olivier was given a good reference by Mr M. H. Greeff who was the Chief Inspector of Schools in South West Africa. He then appointed four teachers who were Messrs D.K Whitebooi, D.R Dearham, A.J.F Kloppers and Miss. H. Plaatjes. In the same year, the school opened its library.
In 1953, the ‘Goewermentskleurlingskool’ was renamed Primary school M. H. Greeff, honouring the former Director of Education for his promotion of coloured teachers and education, which was proposed by the school committee. Due to the shortage of classrooms, the department was required to commence the construction of a prefabricated school in 1958 along Gammams River on the border of the “old location”.
In 1963, the school was divided into two groups, with some of the students attending the school in Khomasdal and others attending the prefabricated school that lay on the edge between Khomasdal and Katutura.
The student numbers rose quickly which once again forced the Administration to begin building a permanent school in Khomasdal.
During the first quarter of 1965, when the Khomasdal School was completed, both schools M.H Greeff and Katutura moved to the new school, with a joint complement of 512 pupils and 16 staff members.
To celebrate the school’s rich history, the school is hosting a Gala Dinner event to commemorate the school’s achievements.
The fundraising gala dinner will be held on the 15 October at the Safari Hotel to help raise funds to improve the schools educational Portfolio for the following generations of Namibians. Tickets can be ordered at the school at N$ 500 per ticket. A complete table for 10 people is being sold at N$ 5 000. For more information contact the principal George Kandetu, at 0814168654.

Keith Vries