BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – Former Eswatini Principals Association (EPA) President Welcome Mhlanga has been transferred to Ka-Boyce High School ahead of the opening of schools for the first term of 2026.
The transfer came to light on Tuesday, 27 January 2026, during a tour of selected schools around Mbabane by the Minister of Education and Training, Honourable Owen Nxumalo. The announcement was made by the Ministry of Education Under Secretary: Schools Manager, Lungelo Nhlengetfwa, who is himself a former headteacher at both Hermann Gmeiner (SOS) High School and Ka-Boyce High School.
From 2026, Mhlanga will officially assume his new role as headteacher at Ka-Boyce High School. Prior to this transfer, he served as principal of Hermann Gmeiner (SOS) High School, a position he held from February 2015. During his tenure, the school recorded notable academic improvements and strengthened stakeholder engagement.
Mhlanga has been replaced by Mrs Audrey Mhlongo, who previously served as headteacher at Setsembiso Sebunye (Baha’i) High School. Learners at Hermann Gmeiner (SOS) High School expressed excitement and joy at welcoming Mrs Mhlongo as their new headteacher. At the same time, many learners expressed sadness at losing Mhlanga, with whom they had grown accustomed after working closely with him for several years.
Addressing learners during the handover, Mhlanga said he was leaving the school with his head held high, expressing pride in what had been achieved during his leadership. He said the learners, teachers, parents and all stakeholders had played a significant role in transforming the school into what it had become.
“I was avoiding this transfer, but those who supervise me felt it was necessary,” Mhlanga said. “I had hoped to work at SOS for a longer period.” He explained that the school, located on the periphery of Mbabane, often enrolled learners who had been rejected by schools perceived to be elite. Despite this, the school managed to produce 11 merits in 2025, even though many learners arrived as second- or first-class candidates.
Speaking for the first time to her new learners, Mhlongo expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Education and Training and the Hermann Gmeiner community for the warm welcome she received. The new principal pledged to work diligently with teachers, learners and parents to further improve the school’s performance.
Addressing the pupils, Minister Nxumalo said he was pleased to engage directly with them and encouraged them to take their education seriously. He said education was the foundation for producing skilled professionals who would contribute meaningfully to national development.
The Minister highlighted the importance of the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system being introduced, saying it would help ensure that Eswatini learners are competitive at a global level. He also urged learners not to shy away from Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), noting that it equips young people with practical skills to earn a living.
Nxumalo further encouraged learners to take sports and the arts seriously, describing them as industries capable of generating substantial income. He also stressed the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), saying these subjects enable innovation by helping learners understand how natural resources work together to improve lives.
