Call to honour iconic educator
ALEXANDRA - The idea of renaming Alex High School after the late educationist and football administration stalwart Leepile Taunyane has been rekindled.
The name Alexandra High School could soon make way for Dr Leepile Taunyane High School if former ambassador and Alex resident Welile Nhlapo had his way on the matter.
Nhlapo was one of the many speakers at the Altrek Sports Complex funeral service of the late Taunyane, who died on 30 October and was buried at the Marlboro Cemetery on 3 November. The former ambassador described Taunyane as “a great teacher, not just in class but outside the four walls of the classroom as well”.
“He was also a distinguished community leader in his own right who served his people with flying colours, both as a football administrator and as a philanthropist. I urge that we revisit the idea of renaming Alex High School in his honour,” said Nhlapo, rekindling a talk that took centre-stage when the school celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2011.
Although this talk died its natural death, Nhlapo said there was a compelling feeling among many educationists in Alexandra that Taunyane should be honoured as one of a few distinguished educationists, who was what he called ‘an excellent principal of the school for a long time’. Taunyane himself once said, “A person can only be thanked for his work once he is dead.” And this could be the opportune time, Nhlapo added.
Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile, also an Alex resident, assured mourners that government would look into the question of honouring Taunyane even if it means renaming the school in his honour. “Taunyane used to work for the community and the best honour we can also give him is to pick up the spear and soldier on in the many frontiers which he sought to improve,” he said.
From Alex High, Taunyane was moved to head Katlehong High School in the Katorus region of Ekurhuleni, where he too distinguished himself. He was also president of the National Professional Teachers Association of South Africa, and held numerous other positions in public organisations and the private sector, including being chairperson of the Alexandra Community Health Clinic and life president of Premier Soccer League and the Alexandra Northrand Local Football Association.
