Dr Fannie Sebolela attending to office duties during his tenure at Curro Soshanguve Academy.
By Simon Makgoga
He started out as a young gardener.
Raised by a single mother who worked as a domestic worker, Dr Fannie Sebolela understood early what it meant to work hard for an education not only for himself, but to one day use it to change other people’s lives.
Dr Fannie Sebolela at work during his time as Executive Head at Curro Soshanguve Academy.
For 18 years he worked in the garden of Hantie and Andries de Klerk.
To him they were more than employers.
He refers to them as parents.
Their support helped him through school and set him on a path that would go on to transform thousands of lives.
On 30 June last month, Dr Sebolela officially retired as Executive Head of Curro Soshanguve Academy.
His service, however, continues. He has been requested to serve in the school’s legal department.
It is a fitting next chapter for a man to whom the Ministry of Education and the country owe a debt of gratitude.
With more than four decades in education, Dr Sebolela made an indelible mark on the sector.
As headmaster he led the transformation of Khensani School from a dilapidated institution of 252 learners and 8 teachers into a thriving centre of 1,400 learners and 25 dedicated staff members.
His commitment to excellence earned him national recognition, including three Primary School Principal of the Year awards and the National Excellence in Primary School Leadership Award.
Today, many of the learners he taught hold senior positions in government departments and well-established private companies.
Dr Sebolela’s influence extended beyond the classroom.
He built international partnerships with institutions in the UK, USA and Japan, and cultivated lasting relationships with major motor companies and state entities that opened doors for learners and communities.
In 2014 his dedication to global education earned him a speaking engagement at the Global Citizenship Conference in Manchester.
Current principal Edward Maluleka commended his contribution, saying, “He has left an enduring legacy that will continue to inspire and motivate us to strive for excellence.”
Dr Sebolela has expressed confidence in Mr Maluleka’s leadership and in the systems he put in place to ensure the work continues.
Dr Fannie Sebolela’s story is a reminder that greatness does not begin in big offices.
It begins in small gardens with big dreams.
For 40 years he proved that when one person chooses to plough back, an entire generation reaps the harvest.
A teacher, a builder, a pioneer South Africa is better because he served.
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