BY GCWALISILE MHLABANE
MANZINI – From outstanding academic results to building confident pupils who are making their mark around the world, Thembelisha Preparatory School is celebrating 20 years of shaping young lives through education, discipline and holistic development.
Owned by the Royal Eswatini Sugar Corporation (RES Corporation), the school marked its 20th anniversary on Friday, October 17, 2026, at its Senior Campus in Simunye, bringing together pupils, teachers, parents, former pupils and RES Corporation management to celebrate two decades of achievement.
The milestone recognised the institution’s contribution to education, its record of academic performance and its role in developing children’s confidence, communication skills and ability to express themselves from an early age.
The celebration combined reflection with entertainment, as pupils participated in games, acting, singing, dancing, swimming, horse riding and bicycle riding, among other activities.
Principal Catherine Dlamini, who joined the school in May 2026, said the anniversary demonstrated the strength of the values and traditions that had shaped the institution over the years.
“We celebrate 20 years of Thembelisha. I have been here since May 2026 and I think today spoke to the tradition and values that Thembelisha has,” she said.
Dlamini praised the teachers and pupils, saying their commitment and achievements reflected a school determined to maintain high standards.
“The staff are amazing, the children speak for themselves by achieving a lot out there. The school is a school of excellence,” she said.
She also acknowledged the support provided by RES Corporation, noting that many parents were employees of the company.
Dlamini said the school was determined to build on its achievements and continue improving its performance as it entered its next chapter.
The school operates across three campuses under one headteacher, supported by heads of department, a structure that has helped maintain unity and coordination among staff.
Head of Department Mduduzi Nhlengentfwa said the arrangement had strengthened teamwork and contributed to the school’s progress.
“Thembelisha is the first school that has three campuses with one Headteacher who is working with HODs. That makes it easy for us to be one team which is united,” he said.
He added that the school’s achievements demonstrated what could be accomplished when staff worked towards a common goal.
The institution’s academic performance has been a major part of its identity, with teacher Phindile Mngomezulu, who has served the school for all 20 years, reflecting on its success.
Mngomezulu said the school had established a strong reputation through results that frequently placed it among the country’s top-performing schools.
“We have got quite good results that have put the school on the map. We usually get position one or two in the country. Some of our students are out around the globe and they are doing very well for themselves,” she said.
Her remarks highlighted the long-term impact of the school’s work, with former pupils progressing beyond primary education to pursue opportunities in different parts of the world.
Veteran teacher Yvonne Dlamini reflected on the changes the institution had experienced, including the arrival and departure of different principals and teaching staff.
She said adapting to new colleagues had sometimes been challenging, but the shared responsibility of educating pupils had kept staff focused on their purpose.
“What I like is that everyone always tries to fit in and work as a team and become a winning team because it is about the students,” she said.
Parents also credited Thembelisha with developing skills that extend beyond academic performance.
Bandzile Maseko, whose three children have attended the school, said he chose the institution because of its reputation and its ability to nurture confidence from an early age.
“I think it is a school that is able to build confidence as early as Grade R. They are able to express themselves, to express how they feel,” he said.
The anniversary also brought former pupil Grak Dlamini back to the school as master of ceremonies. Now an MC, musician and actor, he said his years at Thembelisha had played a significant role in shaping the person he had become.
“It brings memories when I walk into the school. I think I went to the best primary school in the world,” he said.
Dlamini credited the teachers with helping him develop his abilities and character, recalling how their guidance had supported him even when he did not fully understand their intentions as a pupil.
“Thembelisha helped me with structuring who I am. That was unlocked by the teachers,” he said.
His story reflected the wider significance of the anniversary: the school’s impact is measured not only through academic results but also through the confidence, values and foundations pupils carry into adulthood.
As Thembelisha Preparatory School celebrates two decades of education, the institution looks towards the future with a commitment to sustaining academic excellence, strengthening teamwork and nurturing pupils who are prepared to contribute meaningfully to their communities and beyond.
(Courtesy Pic)
