Foundations and early development
The school was established in 1974 in Senderwood, Bedfordview, on the eastern outskirts of Johannesburg. [7] The initiative followed several earlier attempts by the Greek community to establish a formal educational presence in the Transvaal, such as the "Hellenic Government School" in Malvern, which operated in the 1930s. [8]
In the 1960s, the SAHETI Institute purchased a 290,539-square-metre (71.8-acre) farm [9] to serve as the campus. However, the project faced significant delays in fundraising and construction until 1969, when human rights lawyer Advocate George Bizos assumed the chairmanship of the school's board. [7] Bizos, who had arrived in South Africa as a refugee during World War II, coordinated Greek community support for the school's funding. Early fundraising efforts included a debutante ball in 1971 and the "auctioning" of classroom naming rights to donors, many of whose names remain above the doors today. [7] [10] Construction then began in August of the same year. [1]
During the Apartheid era, SAHETI distinguished itself by maintaining an open-enrolment policy. [11] [12] It admitted students regardless of race or background at a time when South African education was strictly segregated. This policy stemmed from the Hellenic ideal that "Greeks are those who participate in Greek culture", [13] a philosophy Bizos adapted from Isocrates to ensure the school served as a multiracial "rainbow" institution. [12]
The school officially opened in January 1974 with an initial enrolment of 114 students, including 60 in preschool and 54 in Grades 1–3. [1] [7] Annual fees at opening ranged between R 60 and R 84 per term. [1]
Evolution and growth
From its inception as a primary school, SAHETI expanded incrementally to offer a full secondary education, reaching its first matriculation class under the chairmanship of Bizos (who served until 1989). [10] In 1996, two years after South Africa's first democratic elections, the school was visited by President Nelson Mandela, a lifelong friend and client of George Bizos. [7] [12]
In 2003, Bizos established the George Bizos SAHETI Scholarship and Bursary Fund (GBSSBF) to support students of outstanding ability who faced financial barriers. [13] Notable attendees during the transition to democracy included the children of assassinated anti-apartheid leader Chris Hani. [14]
By the early 21st century, the school had grown to an enrolment of approximately 1,300 students representing over 26 different ethnicities. [13] [15] It transitioned from a community-focused cultural school to a high-performing academic institution. In 2024, the school was recognised as the top-performing private school in South Africa based on Independent Examinations Board (IEB) results, achieving an average of 4.5 distinctions per candidate. [7]
In the same year, the school also celebrated its 50th anniversary with the publication of the commemorative volume And Not to Yield, authored by Digby Ricci, Dr Daniela Pitt, and John Generalis. [2]
