In a heartfelt ceremony at Kimberley Boys’ High School’s 137th Founders Day, Louis and Cora de Kock, the owners of Wildeklawer farm in the Northern Cape, were honoured with the prestigious honours blazer for their continued contribution in the development of sport in the South African society in general, as well as the communities of the Northern Cape in particular . This accolade, the highest honour bestowed by the institution, recognises their outstanding contributions to the community, particularly through their founding of the Absa Wildeklawer Sport tournament.
Encouraging learners to look beyond themselves
Mr. Xolile Taba, headmaster and principal of Kimberley Boys’ High School, elaborated on the significance of the honour. “Every year, we honour individuals who have done great work for the community or our school.
“At the school, we have different types of recognition, with the highest honour being the white blazer. We started by recognising community members and old boys who have significantly contributed to the school. This year, we are introducing an element that encourages our learners to look beyond themselves and appreciate those who selflessly serve the community. We invite and recognise people who may not have attended the school but have made a significant impact in its development.”
Helping the hospitality industry
Mr. Taba emphasised that the Absa Wildeklawer Sport tournament is not just a local event. It has international recognition. “It brings schools together, instilling pride and honour in young athletes who play for their schools. The tournament also benefits our local hospitality industry, filling guest houses and hotels with visitors. Beyond the players, it helps develop coaches, fostering a network that extends beyond the tournament. The administrative skills we have acquired from hosting this event have even enabled us to organise our 1st Founders’ Annual Half Marathon, which saw over 900 athletes participating, some from outside the country, including some high profile athletes like Onallenna Khonkobe who is the current (2024), Two Occeans Marathon Champion. The marathon proved itself as the biggest in the province!”
Soccer as part of Absa Wildeklawer Sport
Kimberley Boys’ High School is currently finalising a five-year-plan to transform the school from good to great, which ends in 2025. “The Absa Wildeklawer Sport tournament has been a catalyst, accelerating this process. As the host of the soccer version of this tournament, we see top schools in the country, like Paul Roos Gimnasium, in vying for a spot in the tournament each year. Soccer has improved immensely, attracting top schools like Paul Roos, Grey College, Maritzburg College and many more. The caliber of football displayed is exceptional, with the country’s top soccer academies like Benny Sports Academy not making it to the knockout stages. It was a huge risk to include soccer in the tournament, as it comes with a lot of politics, but it has grown tremendously. “It shows the calibre of the football displayed at the tournament. We have 20 teams now – compared to the eight teams we started off with in 2022. I get calls from schools where they want to know how to become part of the tournament. They see the efficiency and the well-organised tournament and the calibre of the soccer. We also enjoy good publicity with regards to the media coverage especially from Super Sport. The tournament has also strengthened the relationship between the university and the school. We have a common purpose. The tournament has also ignited our rugby. The excitement brought by this tournament created interest in the sport where we can now field three divisions instead of one.”
De Kock’s involvement in improving fields
Mr. Taba says the de Kocks’ contributions extend beyond the tournament. “They have directly supported the school by replanting grass on some parts of the fields, fixing the irrigation system and boreholes, ensuring the fields are in top condition despite water shortages in Kimberley. We went 50/50 with them on these improvements and are now training one of our workers to maintain these fields.”
Involvement reignited interest and support
He extended his gratitude to the couple for their support. “Their involvement has reignited interest and support from some of the old boys and the broader community, leading to infrastructural improvements and new initiatives. Mrs. de Kock, in particular, has shown a keen interest in revamping our gardens, which we will undertake in the course of this year.”
The white honourary blazer serves as a symbol of gratitude and recognition for Louis and Cora de Kock’s unwavering commitment to community development and their role in transforming Kimberley Boys’ High School. Their partnership and dedication continue to inspire and uplift the school and its surrounding community.
