The School Cap

1997 in South Africa was a heady year!

Our fledgling rainbow nation was working together to overcome the scourge of the apartheid era.

Kwa Zulu Natal was right there leading the way.   The powers that be were breaking new ground in every field and hopes ran high.

Our family had chosen to move to KZN in the 70’s because of its progressive leanings.   People of all races lived together and respected one another far more than in other provinces as far as we were concerned. We embraced the elections in 1994 with jubilation despite the terrible war between the IFP and the ANC in the rural areas and the surrounding townships.   Finally we had all come together and put aside our differences and celebrated our diversity.

That year, 1997, a momentous occasion happened in Pietermaritzburg when two Agricultural Unions in the Province decided to join hands and amalgamate.    KWANALU. Kwazulu-Natal Agricultural Union was born.   This union was to represent all farmers in the province no matter what their colour or language was.

I had heard along the grapevine that a launch was to take place at the Royal Showgrounds and as I was Public Relations Officer for a relatively new school in town I wanted our school to be part of the proceedings.   I approached Lolly Stuart, the doyenne of Eventing, who had been tasked with putting the programme together and she said if we could sing the new anthem of South Africa (which very few school choirs could at that point) we would be included.   I was elated.   Our music teacher, Petra Byloo, had already taught the choir to sing this very important song and I invited the organizing committee to come and listen to them.

Mrs Byloo, a very talented teacher was very reluctant but with some gentle persuasion she complied and long story short we found ourselves heading off to the Royal Showgrounds on the appointed day.

Another first for KZN – King Goodwill Zwelithini, Dr Buthelezi, Head of the IFP and the President of our country, Mr Nelson Mandela were going to share centre stage!   Security was tight.

We shuttled the children from school in our school kombi which took several trips.   They were issued with white sun visors and they looked very smart in their pin neat uniforms.   White shirts and grey shorts, navy socks and blue tunics for the girls emblazoned with the school badge and motto ‘Deus Ducit – God Leads’.   We were so proud.

The programme was long and many speeches were delivered before it was our turn to shine.   I had decided that as a tribute to our President we would present him with a school cap.   As school caps had been phased out a few years previously at our school it had become a tradition to present important people with the highest honour our school could bestow and that was a school cap.  I wrote our school motto in the inside of the cap and ‘To Mr Mandela from all of us at St Nicholas Diocesan School.’

When I saw that all the dignitaries were seated in a marquee in the middle of the field and all the entertainers were positioned quite far away on the left hand side my heart sank.   How were we going to present him with the cap? Bodyguards and snipers were positioned all around him even up on the roof of the stadium.

I called two little boys to one side and instructed them to take the cap to Mr Mandela while the choir were filing on to the field but that if they were stopped by the bodyguards they were just to turn back and join the choir.   They agreed and off the children went following Mrs Byloo on to the field.

Our headmaster, a very English gentleman, stood with arms outstretched as he was holding the many little sun visors for the children up and down his arms.

‘Who would have thought?’ he muttered.

‘This is so surreal’.

I had to agree with him.   Who would have thought that we would be part of such a momentous occasion?

I saw the two little boys break ranks and I held my breath.   They walked directly up to Madiba and presented him with the cap.   The bodyguards did not even see them!

Madiba bent down and enfolded them both in a huge bear hug and promptly put the cap on his head and folded his arms.   A grin spread across his face.   The two boys scampered back to the choir and we all stood to sing the Anthem.   Tears poured down my face.   At last I felt that I was part of a country.   A truly democratic country!

When the anthem was finished Mrs Byloo started another song called ‘ mBube – the Lion sleeps tonight’ a traditional hunting song, the stadium erupted.   People were dancing in the aisles and the atmosphere was electric.   We thought the dignitaries would leave but no…

From the marquee a lone figure emerged doing his famous dance and he sported a navy blue school cap.

The children had been threatened to watch their teacher at all times but they could see a movement out of the corner of their eyes.   They found it hard to concentrate even with the firm, furious gaze of their teacher focused on them.

Madiba moved over to stand directly next to Mrs Byloo and the children grinned from ear to ear.   He danced and clapped his hands and when the song was finished he turned, took the cap off his head and shook Mrs Byloo’s hand.   I remember seeing her throw her head back and laugh.   She could not believe that the President of our country was standing next to her shaking her hand.   He thanked the children and then turned to go.

Tribal dancers from Fezokuhle School then came on to the field and led the dignitaries to where a lunch had been prepared for them.   The Madiba magic was broken but not before 50 odd little boys and girls had been touched by it not withstanding their teachers, their Headmaster and especially their Public Relations Officer!

That night as I watched national TV I was elated to see our school choir, Mrs Byloo and Mr Nelson Mandela featured in the slot on the launch of the new Agricultural Union in KZN.

Better still the next day on the front page of the Witness there was a lovely photograph of Nelson Mandela in his special Madiba shirt sporting a navy blue school cap and the headlines read ‘ Madiba Shuffle’.

What a red letter day for our school!

I wonder where the cap is today.