It's time for change, says Hoërskool Hendrik Verwoerd
Parents of learners at Hoërskool Hendrik Verwoerd in Pretoria have voted in favour of a new name for the school.
The vote follows a decision by the Department of Education in Gauteng that all offensive and oppressive names and emblems in schools be removed.
Parents voted on three proposed names on Thursday and the suggestions have now been sent to the department for a final decision.
"Everybody is very excited. It has been a long time coming. It is very important for the school and community to do it in the right manner according to what the Department of Education wants but I do think it is going to be a positive change," says the school's governing body (SGB) chairperson, Olga Veldsman.
"It's time for change, it's a long time coming and I think it will be like a breath of fresh air. Everybody was very positive about the process and the name change."
Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi has issued a directive in 2016 that all symbols that demonstrate oppression or racial supremacy be removed.
Verwoerd served as prime minister from 1958 until his assassination in 1966 and is commonly referred to as "the architect of apartheid."
The department's spokesperson, Steve Mabona, explains that the department had no say in the new name of the school.
"As the department we will peruse the documentation and assist to decide on a name that the school, according to the processes they have decided upon - then we will be in a position to say 'here's the name'."