Soutpansberg Primary School bade a second principal farewell this year on 31 October.

“It was a privilege as leader to have a vision of the potential of the management team – and to give them the opportunities to develop as a strong and capable team. From my side, it was a privilege to be a deputy principal of the school for 14 months and acting principal for six months,” said outgoing acting principal, Ms Stienie Fourie. Fourie has retired after a 41-year career in education, of which the last 12 years had been in the position of deputy principal or acting principal.

Fourie is confident that the school, with its 615 learners, is in the hands of an excellent management team until the appointment of a new principal, which is expected sometime in the new year. The post has been advertised in an open gazette in South Africa. Ms Adrie Kloppers, HOD of the Foundation Phase, will be the acting principal in the interim. “We aim high for excellence on the academic side of the school as well as in the extra-mural activities. We can follow in Ms Fourie’s footsteps and she prepared us thoroughly for leadership and also to bounce back if things get tough,” Kloppers said.  Also part of the management team are Mr Nnditsheni Nyamutambo (co-responsible for the senior phase, sports organiser and building and grounds maintenance supervisor), Ms Hester Horn (responsible for the senior phase and organiser of cultural activities) and Mr Wiets Roets (secretary of the School Governing Body).

“The thought of losing Ms Fourie can be panicky, but she moulded us together in a team and we will keep it that way,” Nyamutambo said. Horn added that the team had learnt that one can only be a leader if one develops the people under one. Roets assured parents that everything will carry on normally and that there will be no major changes for the time being.

Ms Fourie wished the parents, the SGB, educators and learners everything of the best. “May this school always be an example of excellent leadership and high-quality teaching. To God be the glory,” were her words at the prize-giving function on 29 October. Fourie is looking forward to her retirement as a time of relaxation with her husband.