The Diocesan School for Girls - Makhanda

CALLING ALL DSG OLD GIRLS! 🌟🌟🌟

TO SAVE THE DATE - EXCITING THINGS ARE HAPPENING
Join Guild President Natalie Gordon and Head of School Dr Sally James for a special virtual gathering as we share the exciting vision for the future of the DSG Guild.

15 September 2026 💚💚

REGISTER HERE:
https://forms.gle/Tvm1kcTezpa3kRbC9

VACANCY | ENGLISH TEACHER

The Diocesan School for Girls invites applications for the position of:

ENGLISH TEACHER

Starting date: January 2027 (negotiable) | Closing date: 1 September 2026

For further information and to access the application form, please visit our website:

https://dsgschool.com/vacancies

VACANCY | ACADEMIC SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR

The Diocesan School for Girls invites applications for the position of:

ACADEMIC SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR

Commencement date: 1 January 2027 | Closing date: 28 August 2026

For further information and to access the application form, please visit our website:

dsgschool.com/vacancies

WINNER OF TERM 2 150 CLUB DRAW – STAY AT RIVER’S REST, KENTON-ON-SEA

We are delighted to announce that the winner of Term 2’s 150 Club draw is former Guild President, Glenda Williams-Wynne (’76). Glenda wins a 3 night stay for 2 at River’s Rest in the Barefoot Capital, Kenton-on-Sea. A big thank you Nan Lutz (’78) for generously donating this wonderful prize! 💚🍃

If you want to join us : sign up here https://dsg.devman.co.za/foundation/subscribe/150club/

To find out more about River’s Rest go to:
https://share.google/wMcuJ8nvdOjaa12uD

A Gold Level 1 for Our Chamber Choir

Day 5 brought the moment our Chamber Choir had been working towards — the Mixed Choir competition at Suma Cum Laude.

There were plenty of butterflies before they walked onto the stage, but once they began to sing, there was a real sense of this is why we are here.

They performed beautifully, and hearing all those hours of rehearsals, learning and preparation come together in their performance was something to be incredibly proud of.

Competing alongside choirs from South Africa and Zimbabwe, our pupils were awarded 5th place out of six choirs, achieving a Gold Level 1 result.

They embraced every workshop, every rehearsal and every opportunity to learn from some of the finest musicians and choirs around them.

We are so proud of our Chamber Choir and the way they represented DSG and St Andrew’s College.

The music, the commitment and the sheer enjoyment of singing together made this a performance we will remember for a long time.

A huge congratulations to our Chamber Choir! 💚

Chamber Choir | Suma Cum Laude on Tour | Days 4–6

By Saturday, our pupils had settled into the rhythm of Suma Cum Laude, and there was still plenty more to experience.

The morning began with an interactive drumming workshop at the amphitheatre before the choir headed out for an afternoon game drive in Pilanesberg Game Reserve. A few lucky members of the group even spotted a leopard!

That evening, they attended one of the festival’s Friendship Concerts, where choirs and orchestras from South Africa and around the world shared the stage. A marimba band from Vancouver made a particularly lasting impression with their interesting arrangements and wonderfully musical playing.

Then came Sunday.

The BIG Day.

The morning began with another Vocal Health Workshop, this time with Dr Pearl Shangkuan, before the choir headed into their final rehearsal. There were plenty of butterflies in the tummies as they prepared for the afternoon’s competition.

With the competition behind them, the evening brought a very different kind of energy. The Ubuntu Party in the Superbowl was filled with music, dancing, singing and the opportunity to make new friends from across the festival.

Their final morning brought another opportunity to experience South African cultural heritage, with a presentation on the Reed Dance Ceremony, practised by the Zulu and eSwatini people. Hamilton Motloung then led the mass choir in a traditional praise song — a powerful way to begin the final day.

And before heading home, there was one more stage to take.

Our Chamber Choir was selected to perform at the Gala Winners Concert, alongside invited choirs, orchestras and ensembles from across the festival. They performed Little Blue by Jacob Collier, arranged by Ben Bram, bringing six days of music, learning and new experiences to a fitting close.

From drumming and vocal workshops to game drives, friendship concerts, cultural experiences and performing alongside musicians from around the world, Suma Cum Laude gave our pupils far more than a competition.

They came home with new musical experiences, new perspectives, new friendships and plenty of stories to tell.

Chamber Choir | Suma Cum Laude on Tour | Days 1–3

So, what happened when we took our Chamber Choir to one of the biggest celebrations of music in the country?

Quite a lot, as it turns out. There was singing, learning, exploring, a few very cold swims and more than a little excitement.

The journey from Makhanda to Rustenburg was a long one, travelling via Gqeberha and Johannesburg, and by 11h30 the packed lunches had already disappeared! By the time the choir finally sat down to a Nando’s dinner that evening, it tasted like heaven.

Thursday was all about learning. The choir took part in two workshops, the first with Hamilton Motloung, who worked with them on their African song. His energy, encouragement and enthusiasm left the pupils feeling completely energised. Later, Austrian adjudicator Andy Icochea shared his expertise in another workshop, giving the choir plenty to think about as they prepared for the days ahead.

Friday began with a Vocal Health Workshop, where warm-ups and vocal technique were turned into something genuinely fun and engaging. Then came some well-earned downtime at the Valley of Waves — although the rather chilly water may have tested their enthusiasm!

The afternoon brought the first real taste of the festival atmosphere. The choirs gathered at the amphitheatre for photographs before heading into the famous Superbowl for the opening ceremony, followed by a spectacular performance by the community choir Duduza Serenade, directed by Hamilton Motloung.

And that was only the first three days.

There were still workshops, concerts, new friendships and the big competition ahead.

U16 Rising Champions Challengers Cup | A Weekend at DSG

A few days on, and we’re still thinking about a weekend filled with hockey, new faces and a very full DSG campus.

Our U16 Rising Champions Challengers Cup brought schools from near and far to Makhanda, and while the hockey was certainly competitive, it was the atmosphere around the tournament that made the weekend feel a little different.

For a few days, the visiting schools became part of DSG. The girls were around campus between games, chatting, getting to know one another and cheering from the sidelines. It was lovely to see players who had arrived as competitors quickly becoming familiar faces around the school.

And there was some excellent hockey to go with it.

The weather gave us a proper Eastern Cape weekend — cold mornings, chilly evenings and plenty of layers coming out as the weekend went on — but the hockey kept everyone on the Astro. Match after match was closely contested, with teams pushing each other right through to the final whistle.

The final was a fitting way to finish. Garsfontein and Ashton International College Ballito played out a real nail-biter, with the score sitting at 1–1 as time ran out. A penalty corner in the final moments gave Garsfontein the opportunity they needed, and they found the back of the net to take the win 2–1.

Congratulations to Garsfontein on winning the tournament, Ashton International College Ballito on finishing second and Collegiate on taking third.

A really big thank you to every school who made the journey to DSG, and to the coaches, managers, officials, Team Hosts, boarding and catering teams, volunteers and everyone behind the scenes who helped make the weekend happen.

And to the girls — thank you for bringing your hockey, your energy and your team spirit to Makhanda. You filled our Astro and our campus with life for the weekend, and it was a pleasure having you here.

We hope you enjoyed being at DSG as much as we enjoyed having you here.

Women Who Make a Difference

As we reflect on Women’s Day, we’re proud to share this special feature from Grocott’s Mail, celebrating four remarkable women from our DSG community: Lara Embling, Nozuko Konjwa, Nombulelo Gongqa and Cindy Fumbata.

Their stories are wonderfully different, but share a common thread — a commitment to others, a willingness to serve, and a belief in the power of women to make a difference wherever they are.

From the classroom and pastoral care to community engagement and advocacy, these women quietly shape the lives of those around them and, in doing so, help shape the next generation.

We are proud to see their stories recognised and grateful for the many ways they contribute to our DSG family and the wider Makhanda community.

We invite you to take a moment to read their stories and celebrate the women who help make DSG what it is.