Latest news with #Michaelhouse
The South African
6 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
Hilton College: The EIGHT Springboks who attended SA's most expensive school
South Africa's most expensive school, Hilton College in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, made headlines for all the wrong reasons this week. This came after its headmaster George Harris told parents of learners at the all-boys private boarding school to 'ditch the opulence, rein it in on expensive marquees and catering and stop behaving badly at the annual Hilton/Michaelhouse rugby derby'. Among other things … Harris's criticism came following the most recent derby against another prominent private school in the province, Michaelhouse. Hilton College, founded in 1872, boasts eight former Springboks among its old boys. They are: Player Date of birth Ebbo Bastard 20 February 1912 Brian Pfaff 3 March 1930 Paul Johnstone 30 June 1930 Clive Ulyate 11 December 1933 Gary Teichmann 9 January 1967 Hentie Martens 29 October 1971 Wayne Fyvie 28 March 1972 Bobby Skinstad 3 July 1976 Both Teichmann (36 Tests) and Skinstad (12 Tests) captained the Springboks. Meanwhile, other prominent figures who have passed through its gates include Proteas cricketer Lungi Ngidi, sports broadcaster Robert Marawa, Democratic Alliance's Christopher Pappas, and two constitutional court judges John Didcott and Arthur Chaskalson – among other famous names. George Harris, who has been headmaster of the school since 2017, is not among Hilton College's alumni. He matriculated at Pretoria Boys High School. Hilton College holds the number one spot as South Africa's most expensive private or public school. Its annual fees for 2025 are R420 729, which includes boarding and tuition fees. Parents of learners would need to earn around R700 000 gross per annum just to afford the school fees for one child. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Times
7 days ago
- Sport
- Times
Parents chastised for ‘displays of opulence' on rugby touchline
The headmaster of South Africa's most expensive school has urged parents to 'ditch the opulence' after sofas and liveried waiters were spotted at the side of the rugby pitch during a match against its closest rival. In a letter to Hilton College parents and old boys, George Harris said he had noticed that the rivalry with Michaelhouse was drawing as much effort off the field as on it, with a 'growing tendency towards one-upmanship in the scale of hosting and catering'. 'When hospitality and generosity become self-serving displays of opulence, they begin to pull us away from who we aspire to be as a community,' Harris, who joined the school in 2017, wrote in a note that has circulated on social media. Security staff had also reported verbal abuse from spectators and 'growing levels of aggression and entitlement', the headmaster said, highlighting a 'distressing' amount of litter. Refusal to comply with parking guidelines had resulted in a jam that took two hours to clear. Billed as the oldest uninterrupted schoolboy rugby rivalry in South Africa, the Hilton–Michaelhouse derby in KwaZulu-Natal province has been contested since 1904. The fixture is played twice a year, home and away. In a blunt message printed in the programme for the latest clash, hosted by Hilton on June 21, Harris wrote: 'Let's allow the boys to play — unhindered.' Following the match, which his school won 29-20, Harris appealed to parents and former pupils to make simpler plans for next season 'and determine to ditch the opulence in favour of a wholesome hospitality devoid of showmanship and loud extravagance'. Peter Storrar, from Hilton's staff, told South Africa's Sunday Times newspaper that the response to the principal's letter had been 'overwhelmingly positive'. Richard Bates, president of the Michaelhouse Old Boys' Club, said it also backed 'a move away from displays of excess', such as restricting spectators to bringing only what they can carry themselves to matches. Hilton College, near Pietermaritzburg, was founded in 1872 by William Newnham, a British teacher and cleric, and Gould Lucas, a naval officer who had survived the wreck of HMS Birkenhead, which sank off the coast of South Africa in 1852. Its annual fees for boarding and tuition are £17,500. Michaelhouse was founded nearby in 1896. Both schools have produced a number of players who have gone on to play for the Springboks, the national rugby side.
The South African
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- The South African
'Extravagant': Is THIS what caused Hilton College controversy?
Images of the 'extravagance' shown by parents of learners – as criticised by the principal of Hilton College – has gone viral on Facebook. The pics stem from a recent rugby derby day between the school and its rival, Michaelhouse. Both learning institutions are ranked as the top two most expensive private schools in South Africa. On Facebook, catering company Capitol Caterers shared a look at their five-star display for Hilton College parents at the derby day against Michaelhouse. The lavish display featured beautifully decorated cakes and snacks, including biltong, salmon, fruit, nuts, and fresh fruit. The company bragged about its 'delicious spread,' praising the school for its 'big weekend of school spirit, sportsmanship, and great food!' . A big weekend of school spirit, sportsmanship, and great food! We were proud to be part of the action as the catering… Posted by Capitol Caterers on Wednesday 25 June 2025 In another pic that went viral on social media, an X user shared a look at parents who attended the rugby derby. On one side were parents of colour who sat on camp chairs, whilst on the other side were white parents who enjoyed catering services and shaded gazebos. 'Watching Hilton College vs MichaelHouse, schools' rugby. Hhay' no, as a black community, we are generations behind', posted @prophilani. In an open letter following their rugby derby day, Hilton College principal George Harris scolded parents of the school for their 'extravagant' display of hosting and catering. He also criticised the parents for not cleaning up after the events. He wrote: 'When hospitality and generosity became self-serving displays of opulence, and began to pull away from what we aspire to be as a community. The principal of Hilton College has urged parents of learners to not be 'extravagant'. Images via Facebook: Hilton College The principal added: 'Next year, can we ditch the opulence in favour of a wholesome hospitality devoid of showmanship and loud extravagance?. 'When the extravagance stretches into overconsumption, the message we send to our children is wrong'. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
05-07-2025
- Business
- The South African
Hilton College: Famous figures who went to SA's most expensive school
South Africa's most expensive school, Hilton College, made headlines this week after its principal scolded parents of learners for being too 'extravagant.' The headmaster's criticism came after a rugby derby featuring another prominent private school, Michaelhouse. This week, Hilton College made headlines for all the wrong reasons when principal George Harris scolded parents for their flamboyant display of wealth at a rugby derby day. The KwaZulu-Natal Midlands school boasts a long list of prominent figures who have passed through its gates. Some of them include former Springboks Bobby Skinstad and Gary Teichmann, Proteas cricketer Lungi Ngidi, sports broadcaster Robert Marawa, Democratic Alliance's Christopher Pappas, and the late rapper, Riky Rick. George Harris, the Hilton College headmaster who wrote the now-viral open letter, is not among the privileged few who attended the private school. Instead, the Wits-schooled leader matriculated at Pretoria Boys High School, the same school attended by Elon Musk, the world's richest man. The principal of Hilton College has urged parents of learners to not be 'extravagant'. Images via Facebook Hilton College bags the number one spot as South Africa's most expensive private school. Its annual fees for 2025 stand at R420 729, which includes boarding and tuition fees. According to reports, parents of learners are in the top 0.01% of South Africa's working class. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
20-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
School rugby fixtures: Hilton host Michaelhouse, St Stithians take on St John's
Most of the schoolboys are now writing exams, so there are only a limited number of matches taking place. With the majority of the schools now writing June exams, and the provincial schoolboys just a few weeks away from playing in the annual rugby weeks across the country, there isn't too much happening this weekend, but the good news is there are some matches taking place. And it's hard to look past the KZN midlands derby between Hilton and Michaelhouse as the biggest match of the weekend. It's a derby that's been going for years and there are sure to be hundreds, if not thousands, of rugby fans keeping an eye on this one. Up in Gauteng, the big derby between English schools, St Stithians and St John's, is sure to bring in the fans and old boys. There are also some big matches down in the Western Cape, with the clash between Rondebosch and Bishops maybe the highlight. Selected fixtures KZN Hilton v Michaelhouse Western Cape Boland Landbou v Paarl Gim SACS v Wynberg Rondebosch v Bishops Eastern Cape Dale v St Andrew's Stirling v Selborne Noordvaal St Alban's v Kearsney St Stithians v St John's
