MEET THE LOCAL ORGANISING COMMITTEE
SAPA KZN
Mr Linda Shezi
PRESIDENT
Taking on the challenge to steer SAPA KZN for the next few years is both an honour and a privilege. I was appointed the Deputy Principal of New Forest High School in 2007. My passion is seeing schools grow from strength to strength and to see schools have a positive impact in the lives of the learners, staff and the greater community.
As SAPA KZN President I will endeavour to maintain the professional integrity of our association, see it grow and ensure our members benefit from associating with SAPA. Our Provincial Committee is made up of Heads of school who give up their time to make our association function. I am deeply appreciative of such commitment.
As school leaders, we must not neglect our professional needs and personal wellbeing. We plan to add a wellness programme to our SAPA KZN programme. This will not only help us to network, but it will also play a vital role in revitalising school heads. I am a believer in school functionality depends on the relationship between the principals and deputies. I therefore will be working hard in promoting deputy principal membership.
Our mission, vision and values are very well stated. We aim to fulfil these in everything that we do. We will establish partnerships with organisations and associations that will enhance what we do and help us fulfil our mission. We remain a non-union aligned association for principals and deputy principals.
“Alone we are smart. Together we are brilliant.” Steven Anderson
I look forward to interacting with you at various levels as we grow and learn together.
Let us remain BRAVE, STRONG and TRUE!
Linda Shezi
SAPA KZN President
Mrs Linda Scholtz
DEPUTY PRESIDENT
Following my husband, Dirk, from place to place as he progressed in his career, my years were blessed with the opportunity to teach at and serve on the management of:
Estcourt High School, St Gregory College, Brettonwood High School, Ridge Park College (as Deputy Principal and Acting Principal) and Kuswag (as Principal of both the High and Primary school for 10 years) and now at Danville Park Girls’ High for the past 6 years.
I currently serve as Deputy President of SAPA KZN and KZN Provincial Chair of SAOU. Roles that I execute with appreciation of my calling to serve in education.
Some may believe that the highlights of my career are my international visits to schools in New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore and my appointment as Business Woman of the Year 2008/2009, but they are mistaken.
The best has been my time spent with the learners: Seeing the flicker of joy in their eyes at a moment of conquest or achievement, sharing happy and sad moments and even saying goodbye when I greet them as they embark on the new chapter of their lives. I treasure the times when they return later as adults to share their highs and lows with me.
My belief in the value of children has always driven me to continue to work to compliment and augment the facilities of our learners through sourcing significant donations and sponsorships.
I am so privileged to work with the best asset in the world – our children. That and raising my only child, Lliam, together with my supportive spouse, seeing Lliam marry an amazing woman, Christy-Anne and becoming an Oumie to little Ayla Ray and Jaxon…those are my greatest achievements!
Mrs Erica Hayes-Hill
TREASURER
Erica Hayes-Hill has been Principal of Durban Girls High school since November 2012.
Erica Hayes-Hill has been Principal of Durban Girls High school since November 2012. Celebrating 10 years in the principals post a few years back, just reminds me how quickly time flies. I have steered the school, with all the team mates on board through some difficult times: the school had a major bus accident in 2016, and then of course the 2 years of Covid. I got Covid, when everything was back to normal.
We have made good headway on anti-racism, an anti-discrimination policy and restorative justice. Mainly that we have not just introduced policies, but workshopped with our entire staff on some of these issues, planning a positive way forward for all.
I work with South African Principals Association (SAPA) nationally and provincially. It is an organisation that works to develop Principals and Deputy Principals, professionally, and of course have been involved with SAGSA for many years. SAPA needs your support, because as it grows so do the Department of Education work with us more closely. We meet with them three times a year, and had a positive impact in negotiating the ills of Covid.
I love words and spaces. We have made the spaces that the staff work in, a happy welcoming space. We have built an educational centre that seats 1500 people, and is also an indoor sports centre. We have upgraded our sports courts. Our latest project is the introduction of i-pads to all grade 10 learners and staff, and improved our wifi system to support digital learning. This will follow through to Grade 11 and 12’s over the next few years.
A poem “An Invitation to Brave Space”
We can create brave space
Because there is no such thing as a “safe space”…..
It will not always be what we wish it to be
But
It will be our brave psace together,
And We will work on it side by side.”
Mickey Scottbey Jones
Belonging needs to be in every vision, mission statement and tough, I dream that this will be what Durban Girls’ High holds fast and lives by!
Erica Hayes-Hill
Mr Edward Curtis
member
Edward Curtis is currently the Principal of Eshowe High School.
Dr Wilfred Msomi
member
Dr Wilfred N. Msomi is the principal of Colenso Primary School. He has been in the teaching profession for 42 years and joined the South African Principals Association to be in the Provincial Executive for two full terms. He is looking forward to a successful National SAPA conference in 2023 in Durban.
Mr Mervyn Chinsammy
member
Mervyn is the acting Principal of Habeni Primary School. He has held this position since 2021 and is in his 30th year of service with the school. He is married with two sons aged 22 and 18.
Mervyn completed his primary education at Newholme Primary and attend the Silver Heights Secondary school.
He completed his tertiary education at the University of Durban-Westville, now one of the campuses for the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
His extensive teaching career began at Glencoe Primary, followed by Deccan Road Primary. In 1999 he started at Eshowe Ntumeni Primary. His first promotion to Senior Phase HOD took him to Mbongolwana Primary. He was then promoted to HOD of Kwamondi Primary. In 2004 he was promoted to Deputy Principal at Habeni Primary. In 2022 he took up the position of Acting Principal.
Mr Sizwe Zwane
MEMBER
A vision of Empangeni High School learners competing in the global market and having exposure to the international arena is what drives their Principal, Sizwe Zwane.
Sizwe matriculated at Zinikeleni Secondary School with a remarkable mark of 94% in Mathematics.
He holds the following qualifications:
- BSC Environmental Management degree (University of Zululand)
- BSC Honours in Geography (University of Zululand)
- PGCE (UNISA)
- Data Handling Certificate (UKZN)
- Financial Investment Certificate (University of Pretoria)
- Masters degree in Educational Management
He is currently enrolled for the Post Doctoral Degree in educational management.
Accolades:
- First Black Departmental Head, Deputy Principal and Principal of Hoërskool Empangeni High School.
- National Champion Choir Conductor with Birdswood Secondary and Hoërskool Empangeni High School.
- Winner of the 22nd National Teaching Awards in RSA, Excellence in Secondary School leadership.
- Transformed the school to an education village as endorsed by KZN DOE HOD
- Secretary of the University of Zululand Convocation; representing all graduates in Council.
Mrs Cathryn Shaw
SECRETARY ADMIN
I have worked at Danville Park Girls’ High School for almost 19 years. (PA to Principal and admissions secretary) I am married and have two married daughters. Both my daughters and I are Danville old girls.
Ms Corné Neethling
FINANCIAL ADMIN
Corné is currently the Administrator of Durban Girls’High School.
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