JAKES GERWEL SCHOOL OF SKILLS

The Jakes Gerwel Technical School was a project done for the Bonnievale community by the Bonnievale community itself. It was built on a 12 hectare piece of land. The project was divided into five phases. The first phase started in June 2017 and the last phase was completed in December 2022.

The motivation behind this school was to address a lack of high school facilities in the area as well as the social upliftment of the youth growing up in challenging circumstances.

Motla Consulting Engineers offered their services for free as well as Theuns Coetzee, the architect who drew the plans of the school. The whole community got involved in making contributions towards the vision of a new technical high school with capacity for 1200 learners.

The school is named after late professor Jakes Gerwel, an academic and anti-apartheids activist who also grew up in a farm community and had a challenging background.

This project was a moving example of teamwork & hope within the Bonnievale community. Today it is a collaboration between the Department of Education and private contributors. The learners don’t have to pay school fees and have the opportunity to not only receive mainstream curriculum education, but also practical and technical skills. 

Character development facilitated by mentors is also a big focus of the school in order to cultivate respect, integrity, self-discipline and honesty.

The learners can also enjoy a nutritious meal for lunch every day. Different sport facilities and fields also make physical activity and development possible.

“An innovative, game-changing educational concept in the heart of rural Western Cape. Life changing. Need I say more?” Kubeshini Govender, Chief Education Specialist, WCED.