A faction of alumni and parents associated with Hoërskool DF Malan are mulling over the possibility of an appeal to halt the school’s impending name change, following a recent court judgment.
Hoërskool DF Malan name change hinges on alumni appeal decision
The clamour surrounding the name change of Hoërskool DF Malan in Bellville took a legal turn as opposing factions jostled to have their voices heard.
At the heart of the dispute is Advocate Barend Rautenbach, who, along with a group of former students and some parents, contests that the name-changing procedure was not duly adhered to.
This group took their grievances to the Western Cape High Court, challenging the school governing body (SGB)’s initiative to alter the school’s name.
The court, however, dismissed their application, granting the SGB the leeway to proceed with the name change aimed at reflecting a more inclusive identity.
The opposing group isn’t backing down just yet; they have a three-week window to file an application for leave to appeal the judgment. Rautenbach conveyed to Eyewitness News that deliberations on the way forward are underway, although a final decision to appeal or not is yet to be made.
Hoërskool DF Malan has a historical legacy stretching back to 1951. It was named after DF Malan, a South African-French politician who helmed the position of South Africa’s Prime Minister from 1948 to 1954.
Under his leadership, the National Party instituted the notorious apartheid system, engendering racial segregation laws. DF Malan’s tenure marked the entrenchment of apartheid foundations, an era whose remnants still resonate within the South African socio-political landscape.
Some see the name change as a step towards shedding the dark past and embracing a more inclusive future.
However, the opposing faction highlighted a procedural misstep in the name-changing process, igniting a legal brawl that underscores the broader societal struggle with historical legacies and the quest for inclusivity.