More About Vryburg High School

Letter from the Principal

Dear Parents, Students, and Friends of Vryburg High School,

Welcome to Vryburg High School – a school where every learner is known, valued, and encouraged to reach their full potential. At VHS, we are more than just a school; we are a family, proud of our history and excited about our future.

Our motto, “Carpe Diem” – “Seize the Day,” is not merely a phrase on a badge but a way of life. Since opening our doors in 1881, we have grown into one of the oldest and most respected schools in South Africa — combining rich tradition with fresh opportunities for today’s learners.

Here, your child will find more than classrooms and textbooks. They will discover caring teachers who go the extra mile, friends who become like family, and countless opportunities to grow — academically, spiritually, and personally. With matric pass rates of 95–100% in recent years, we are proud of our consistent results, but even prouder of the confident, grounded young adults who leave our gates each year.

At VHS, we believe education is about the whole learner. Discipline, Christian values, and moral guidance are woven into daily school life so that our learners leave not only with knowledge but also with strong character, self-respect, and resilience.

Beyond academics, our school is alive with activity. Whether your child’s passion lies in rugby, netball, hockey, athletics, cricket, soccer, tennis, cross-country, mountain biking, or golf, or in choir, chess, debate, public speaking, musicals, CSV, or pom-poms, there is a place for them to shine. We work hand-in-hand with parents and expert coaches to ensure that every learner has the chance to discover their unique gifts.

Most importantly, at VHS your child will never be just a number. We walk this journey with our families, celebrating every achievement — big or small.

Thank you for considering us as partners in your child’s future. We would love to welcome you into the VHS family, where every learner is encouraged to seize every opportunity and make their school years truly unforgettable.

Carpe Diem – Seize the Opportunity!

Warm regards,
Charlotte van Heerden
Deputy Principal, Vryburg High School

Vision

Vryburg High School will provide all learners with a quality, standards-based educational program delivered by well-qualified staff, ensuring that every learner reaches their full potential.

Mission

It is the mission of Vryburg High School to achieve and maintain excellence through the provision of comprehensive education and holistic development for every learner — inspired by our Christian faith and values.

School Song

As a result of the many bright and shining stars, the writer of our school song, Mr. Carl van Wyk, drew the conclusion that human achievement knows no limits:
“We can do anything, only the impossible takes a little bit longer.”

Wyd soos ons ruimtes van vlaktes en rug
Ryk soos ons aarde en skoon soos ons lug
So leef ons en streef ons ons sonnige dag
Aan die Hoërskool Vryburg met jeugdige krag.

Ons werk en ons woeker met liggaam en gees
Om ‘n sieraad vir God en die wêreld te wees
Om te leer en te lewe met al ons mag
Carpe Diem vir ons is die dag.

Here where the grass meets the endless blue sky
Sun shining brightly as seasons fly by
We live and we learn with passionate soul
At the High School Vryburg we accomplish our goals.

We work and we play with a pride for our school
To bring glory to God who is all powerful
So we trust and we pray that we find our way
Carpe Diem we live for the day.

(Music composed by G.A. de Ronde, born 1904. The Afrikaans lyrics were written by Carel van Wyk, and the English lyrics were added in 2017 by Nalize Cilliers, born 1993.)

History of Vryburg High School

The Stellaland Republic was established in 1882. At that time, there was no formal education system in Vryburg — partly due to the small population and limited funding, but also because basic literacy skills such as reading and writing were mostly taught at home.

In 1883, two small private schools were founded by Miss Dedman and Miss Kennedy. The Vryburg community, together with the Imperial Administration of British Bechuanaland, later collaborated to establish a public school. As a result, the Vryburg Public School officially opened on 2 February 1891 with 20 learners.
Mr. Kelly was initially appointed as acting principal and accepted the position permanently in 1893, earning a salary of R400 per year. By 1901, the number of learners had grown to 200, and school fees amounted to R12 per year — roughly the price of two sheep at the time.

In parallel, the local Dutch Reformed Church founded the “Poor School” in 1883 to support underprivileged children. When British Betsjoeanaland was incorporated into the Cape Colony in 1895, this school was merged with the public school.

After the Anglo-Boer War, two additional schools existed in the area — a convent school and a camp school in the concentration camp. The local Dutch Reformed minister also established the Independent School to accommodate the area’s diverse language groups. By 1909, there were five schools in Vryburg, which were then consolidated into a single institution.

As student numbers continued to grow, the need for a larger school building arose. In 1913, the foundation stone for a new school building was laid by H. Rosenblatt. However, the building soon became too small, and in 1925 plans were made for further expansion. In 1928, the Minister of Education, Dr. D.F. Malan, laid the cornerstone of the current high school building, which was designed in a horseshoe shape to allow for future extensions.

In 1940, Stellaland Primary School was established when the primary section separated due to the growing number of learners — already 717 at the time. Further expansions followed in 1948, adding a science laboratory, library, and new classrooms. Woodwork and home economics departments were also introduced. By 1960, the number of learners had exceeded 600, prompting another phase of expansion.

In 1987, another major development project was completed and officially opened by Dr. S.W. Walters, Director of Education. The project, costing R4,226,906, included:

Three technical workshops (motor mechanics, electrical work, and fitting & turning)
17 classrooms
3 laboratories
A home economics room
6 administrative offices
An enlarged assembly hall
A medical inspection unit
Various storerooms and bathrooms

Today, Vryburg High School is over 126 years old, with approximately 700 learners, and continues to stand as a beacon of academic, sporting, and cultural excellence in the region.

The Tragic Story of the Three Bennies

This is the story as told by Joachim Scholtz, who was also in the accident.

“On this day – I think it was May 1947 – I was in matric then, four school rugby teams would have played at Christiana . The late Oom George van der Linde would transport us with a 5-ton truck that served in the Second World War as a troop carrier. Since everyone couldn’t sit on the steel benches, the three Bennies and Mr. S. M. de Villiers sat on the truck’s tailgate. We would drive across Schweizer-Reneke and Bloemhof.

We had to cross the railway line at Ferndale – between Bloemhof and Christiana. We had to go through the gates on either side of the track to get over the track. Someone with a donkey cart opened the gates. Since the truck had a canvas as a roof, the vast majority couldn’t see the outside. The station (siding) was densely overgrown with large trees. When the uncle turned to the gate, one of the Bennies peered out and shouted to us inside, “You who come out of the Kalahari and haven’t seen a train yet. Look, there is one now.” (From Christiana) Of course, only the three Bennies and Mr. SM De Villiers (and I) saw the train. I just sat behind the cab and as there was an opening, I peeked out and saw the train coming on the other side of the siding. Uncle George drove through, because the gates were open. Here I have to say that the windows were turned up and that the mica was yellow and cracked between the windows, which obstructed the sight.

I don’t know if the locomotive blew the whistle at the transition – I didn’t hear anything. Maybe the Uncle didn’t hear anything either. Nonetheless – when the front wheels were between the tracks, the train hit the truck’s cab – this I saw through the opening between the sail and the cab. The train was at full speed and swung the truck around so that the three Bennies were thrown against the locomotive. They had no chance and died instantly. Mr. SM de Villiers fell off. The wheels of the truck lay 72 feet (±23 meters) away. The other occupants flew through the canvas and some landed inside the trucks and others landed between the trucks and were dragged along.

Mr. Van der Linde died in his son’s arms. I had a miraculous escape. I fell along the railway line, so close that the wheels tore my pants and jacket off my body. My hat was attached to the jacket’s lap with a string and it was also torn away. I kept these clothes for many years. The only injury I sustained was a cut on my wrist. I later had to undergo a back operation and an operation on my hand.

To continue. When I got up, Mr. SM de Villiers already established order. It was a terrible sight to see more than fifty people lie – some seriously injured. There was no phone on the station and the first car to go and call for help arrived after about half an hour . Ambulances came from Vryburg, Schweizer and Wolmaransstad. A special train with doctors and nurses was hurriedly sent from Kimberley to transport the seriously injured to Klerksdorp Hospital. Among them was Mr. Calitz and Mr. Klue (two of the teachers who sat in the front). In Vryburg Hospital, 24 injured were treated.”

The three Bennies: