The relocation of families to the sprawling suburb of Mitchell’s Plain in 1976 brought with it a growing need for schools in the area.
April 2026 will mark the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the first families in the area.
Westridge pensioner Brenda Barnes, 69, relocated with her family to Westridge from Kewtown in 1976 when she was 20 years old.
“I moved into the area with my parents and two younger siblings on June 18, and turned 21 a few months later.
“My younger brother started school at Mitchell’s Plain Primary on October 5, 1976, when the school opened its doors for the first time,” she said.
Westridge resident Reneé Johns, 54, remembers her early years in Mitchell’s Plain very well.
Ms Johns, who lives in her family home with her 76-year-old mother, moved to the area with her parents and two sisters in 1976.
“We moved to Westridge from Bridgetown on July 19, 1976. I was five, turning six years old.
"We came from a community in Bridgetown. The most challenging part as a little girl was knowing that I couldn’t just walk down the street to visit our old friends anymore,” she said.
When Mitchell’s Plain Primary first opened its doors, it meant that residents could now enrol their children a stone’s throw away from where they lived.
Supported by eight teachers, the founding principal William van Graan welcomed 216 pupils on its first day on October 5, 1976.
“I went to Mitchell’s Plain Primary from 1977. Before that I was at St Mary’s in Woodstock for the first year of my school life.
“I remember teachers such as Ms Mullins, my Grade 3 teacher Mrs Bailey, Mrs October, Mr Daniels, Mrs Gordon, and others,” she said.
Ms Johns, who is a social worker, said it took some time getting used to her new neighbourhood and school, which was known as Mitchell’s Plain Primary Number 1 back then.
“School was very different here from St Mary’s, where I had friends. My mom took me to school on my first day. All the children were quite new in the area.
“There were no aftercares or anything like that. One of your parents had to have been at home, or a neighbour or somebody would have to look after you at home.
“Because we grew up during Apartheid, there was very little one could compare school to. I do remember having interesting little things to read in our readers.“For example, I read a story about Pompeii (in Italy). When I was 21, I found myself in Pompeii because of that story, which led me to be interested in archaeology,” Ms Johns said.
Westridge senior Susan Tertiens, 86, and her late husband and children moved into Kronendal Street a few weeks after the Johns family, on August 2, 1976.
“When we moved to Westridge in Mitchell's Plain, we were families with young children and teenagers. We were excited about having a spacious three-bedroom home that was perfect for our family.
“Our neighbourhood featured beautiful front gardens, and we quickly made friends with our neighbours,” she said.
Shaping future leaders
When Westridge High opened its doors in 1977, it was known as Mitchell’s Plain High School Number 1.
Ms Tertiens said she has fond memories of her children attending Westridge primary and high schools.
"Our children graduated from high school and pursued higher education, achieving significant milestones in their lives,” Ms Tertiens said.
Ms Johns attended the high school from Standard 6 (now Grade 8) in 1983 until she matriculated in 1987.
“Many great people came from Westridge High. Quite a few of my classmates have their PHDs, many people became journalists, including my sister Lynette Johns, and others had done amazing research at the University of the Western Cape.
“Our matric ball was at Westridge Civic Centre. There was nothing flashy about it. I can’t recall if we had a band or deejay.
“We went to Strandfontein Pavilion for the afterparty and had a huge braai. It was fun,” Ms Johns said.
Former Cape Community Newspaper (CCN then) journalist, Chantlé Hoffmann are among the outstanding alumni of Westridge High.
Ms Hoffmann said Westridge High has been instrumental in shaping her thoughts and ideals.
“The lessons I learnt at Westridge High, went way beyond the classroom. They were lessons of compassion, strength, courage and the great belief that anything is possible.
“The political seeds already planted at home were fed by the likes of educators like Ashiek Manie, Gordon Edwards, Donovan Fullard, Ms Desai and Ms September, to name but a few,” she said.
Ms Hoffmann, a civil servant and member of the Mitchell’s Plain Development Action Collective, said she remains grateful for the friendships and bonds forged during her time at Westridge High, of which some continued long after school.
“I am a proud product of Westridge High. My love for English was further enhanced by Mr Craig Yon and it was this love, coupled with a sense of making a difference in the world, which cemented my decision to become a journalist,” she said.
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