In keeping with our Mission Statement of ‘preparing students for life’, we are always delighted to learn of past students who excel in their chosen careers. These alumni that are featured here are just a sample of the many success stories of which we are exceptionally proud. Our website features these achievers and is updated as more become known to us.
Matthew Legemaate - a very special past student who is still doing well after a mammoth heart and double lung operation in 2017, and who started the Hero 777 Organ Donor Organisation to raise awareness about organ and tissue donation. Matthew celebrated the 5 year anniversary of his transplant in October 2022. Since leaving school in 2017 to have his life-saving heart and lung transplant, Matthew has managed to complete his Matric and has furthered his interest and skills in photography. He was able to complete the 35 km Amashova race less than a year after his transplant, and the 65 km Amashova the following year! He honours his donor and donor family, knowing that without their decision he would not be here today. Matthew's inspiring attitude was always one of choosing to be positive and it continues to stand him in good stead. In 2024 Matthew embarked on studies at the 1000 Hills Chef School.
BCom in Law, Honours in Communication Management, MPhil in Strategic Business Management
Elma is a passionate advocate for the development of others - especially Women, Youth and the Pan-African Community. At the age of 16 Elma received a standing ovation for her speech at the Global Young Leaders Conference at the UN Headquarters in New York, having been elected as the Chairperson of Youth UN by 169 Global Delegates. At 17 she received a Barclays Africa Scholarship for academic and leadership excellence, and at 18 she was elected President of the Golden Key International Honour Society University of Pretoria Chapter. At 20 she received a Mastercard Foundation Scholarship for development of Africa’s next generation of leaders, and attained a place on the GradStars Top 100 Most Employable Graduates in South Africa. An award-winning Public Speaker and gifted Voice Over Artist, Elma has given numerous Keynote Addresses and served as Master of Ceremonies at prominent events including the first ever TEDx Talk, University of Pretoria. In 2022 she was selected as one of the 2022 JCI Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the WORLD! She is also the owner of her own entrepreneurial venture - Elevate Africa - providing guidance and support to Pan-African clients with regards to public speaking and presentation excellence. Elma is a young leader who uses her voice to influence positive change; her lifelong dream is to become the Chairperson of the African Union.
Alan Hatherly is a South African mountain bike racer. In 2018, he achieved a Bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games, subsequently going on to be crowned the 2018 Under 23 Cross Country World Champion. In 2022, the UCI World Cup races held in Austria saw him assert himself as one of the world’s best sprint mountain bikers and he achieved an impressive 3rd place. In 2024, Alan won Bronze in the Paris Olympics and took first place at the 2024 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships which took place in Pal Arinsal in Andorra, a land-locked country situated between France and Spain. As the reigning World Champion, he brought the rainbow jersey home to the rainbow nation. The rainbow jersey, a cycling discipline tradition since 1927, is white with five horizontal bands in the same colours that appear on the Olympic flag, not dissimilar to our South African flag colours!
Dr Amy Booth matriculated as the Dux student in 2012. She qualified as a medical doctor at the University of Cape Town, summa cum laude and gold medalist (top student). During her studies she served in several leadership positions for which she was awarded the UCT Vice-Chancellors Leadership Award, UCT Social Responsiveness Award, Kerry Capstick-Dale Leadership Award, Aedil Moerat Bursary, and the Klaus Jurgen Bathe Leadership Scholarship. She also undertook an internship with the WHO in Geneva. She completed her medical internship in KZN during which time she was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to undertake studies at the University of Oxford towards a PhD looking at the environmental impact of health systems, with focus on embedding environmental sustainability into the pharmaceutical supply chain. She has published several peer-reviewed articles and has been invited to present on this topic both locally and internationally. In 2024, she was invited to present her research to the British Parliament on the effects of medicine on climate change.
Miss Mbalenhle Zuma was awarded the prestigious award of Entertainment Journalist of the Year for 2024. Mbalenhle's plans to study Interior Design were not approved by her parents, so she initially embarked on studies to be an Electrical Engineer, although knowing in her heart this was not the career path for her. In 2016, with the support and encouragement of her parents, she changed tack and started the path towards Journalism at the Tshwane University of Technology. The shaky start to her studies left her feeling like a failure at times, but Mbalenhle's hard work and determination have paid off and we look forward to watching her career grow from strength to strength.
Msizi James is a DJ/MC/Radio Host and TV personality. He starred on South African Idols where he placed 17th overall. He began at East Coast Radio in 2014, where he fell in love with the media industry and went on to host “The Weekend Breakfast Show” as well as “The early morning weekday show.” Two years later, he began a job at 5FM and hosted “The Primetime Drive Show” as well as “The Top 40 Show.” In 2021, he moved to South Africa’s number one commercial radio station, 947, to become the host of the weekday show. He has also been the host on several TV shows including “The Big Brand TV” on MNET as well as “RGB” on SABC 1.
Recipient of the 2013 Garlicke & Bousfield Environmental Law Award, the Abel Torf Prize for best overall LLB student, the KwaZulu-Natal Law Society Prize for best LLB student and the Phatshoane Henney Group Honour Medal for graduating summa cum laude.
MSc in African Studies (University of Oxford)
MSc in Economics for Development (University of Oxford)
BBusSci in Economics & Finance, Cum Laude (University of KwaZulu-Natal)
Mbongeni Ndlovu was the recipient of the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University. After obtaining two Masters degrees, he returned to South Africa and his passion is giving back to his school, his community, his country and even his continent. He is currently the Head of African Trade and Industry at the Toyota Wessels Institute for Manufacturing Studies as well as being the Research Manager at B&M Analysts (Pty) Ltd. He has led research projects for major South African government departments such as the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, and the Department of Small Business Development. He also generously gives his time as a Rhodes Scholar selector for KZN and as the Chairperson of the Hillcrest High School Trust.
Master of International Relations (Wits)
Cayley is currently the Head of Research for the Democratic Alliance in Parliament. She was selected for the competitive Konrad Adenaur Stiftung Scholarship which she completed while simultaneously completing her internship with the SAIIA (South African Institute of International Affairs.)
Master of Sport Science (cum laude)
Jolene is a biokineticist and resides in Gauteng.
Amongst many other awards, she received the SA Association for the Advancement of Science (S2A3) medal for Best Masters Research Project. She owns JM Biokinetics and Vida Fit.
Nonhlanhla is a commercial pilot with instrument rating and flies as a First Officer with SA Express Airways. She is CEO of Vukani Aviation and Executive Director of the South African Flight Training Academy.
PhD Medical Biochemistry (UCT)
Dr Cherise Dunn is the co-founder of SOUTH AFRICA MAKES – an internationally recognised and award-winning medical device manufacturing company. She has been featured on TEDx, and brand eins, one of Germany’s largest business magazines, in the IT-Dienstleister 2020 issue as one of the featured thought leaders on what’s next for the digital future for 3D printing. Dr Dunn has led SOUTH AFRICA MAKES as one of the winners of Fast Company South Africa’s Most Innovative Companies 2021 and in the same year was selected as one of Wesgro’s Young Innovators in the Western Cape Health Tech sector, encouraging tourism, trade and investment in the region. Furthering this mission, she is currently a representative for Cape Town in Sister Cities International, facilitating trade and investment relationships between entrepreneurship ecosystems in Cape Town and Miami, as well as the global SCI network, and was a Changemaker in Nedbank’s YouthX campaign for 2022. Her other recent list of achievements includes being selected as a Panache International Women of Wonder in 2022; one of the 50 most inspiring women in STEM in South Africa for 2019 as awarded by Inspiring Fifty SA; as well as one of the Mail & Guardian Top 200 Young South Africans for 2019 for Business and Entrepreneurship. In December 2018, Dr Dunn was recognized by the United States Department of State and nominated for the International Visitor Leadership Program for Women in Entrepreneurship.
B Soc Sci (Media, Communications and Marketing)
Miss South Africa 2006, Megan runs her business, Image Insured, with her mother, Fay Coleman.
Olympic Race Walker. Sporting highlights include the FISU Summer Universiade 2007, IAAF World Championships 2013, 2015, 2019 (team announced 6th Sep 2019), and Marc's ultimate realisation of a childhood dream – competing at the Olympics in 2012 and 2016. Marc’s London 2012 appearance became a career-defining moment, setting a new national and continental record in the 50km walk and coming 29th overall. Marc also aims to compete in Tokyo 2020. Marc was also awarded AISTS (International Academy of Sport Science and Technology) 2020 Athlete Scholarship.
MSc Hydrology (UKZN, Pmb.)
Stuart completed a beginner’s course in rugby refereeing in 1998, began refereeing in 2002 and continued with his passion for some 20 years as an IRB Test referee, Super Rugby referee and Currie Cup referee. He has been able to travel the world visiting over 21 different countries from Japan, to Argentina, New Zealand, Australia, and Kenya. His highlights include his first test match in 2013 (Japan vs New Zealand), being at the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England, and refereeing the European Final between Leinster and Scarlets in 2018. He retired from active reffing at the end of 2021, and is now consulting to World Rugby on their referee management team as well as keeping very busy with his events management company, Impi Concept Events. The company started largely in mountain biking and trail running, but the majority of their work now is in the music and entertainment industry, including Splashy Fen, which is their biggest festival.
MBChB, MPH
At the 2019 Investec Rhodes Top 100 Students Awards, Mpumelelo Methula was awarded the Student Leadership Award as a result of her various roles in different leadership positions at the University. Keanen-Troy Johnson was awarded the General Excellence Award for achievements across different fields such as sport, culture, leadership, volunteering and academics.
Founders of the multi-million dollar organisation, Ignition (founded in 2002), a central business vertical to the Ignition Group. Ignition Group is now one of Africa’s largest investors in technology, media, telecommunications and financial services sectors, and provides a platform for sustainability and success.
Film producer in the U.S. One of his well known shows is The Outpost.
BComm, CFP, MIFM Miss South Africa 1999
Previously involved with Marriott Asset Management as an investment professional, Heather is also a former South African equestrian champion and has represented KZN in showjumping, dressage and equitation.
Peter is a hugely talented, internationally acclaimed chef who also holds the title in South Africa as Executive Chef for The Collection by Liz McGrath. In 2011, he was awarded the prestigious status of Grand Chef at the annual Relais & Chateaux Congress. Peter opened Mondiall Kitchen & Bar in the V&A Waterfront in 2013 and is involved with several wine labels.
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