View photos of the Legacy Fund function at the Oude Wijnberg Museum
Thursday 21 November 24: Former WBHS Headmaster and Director of the Old Boys’ Legacy Fund, Jan de Waal, welcomed several local Fund members to the Oude Wijnberg Museum to appreciate the facility’s recent refurbishment, to meet the WBHS Head and Deputy Head Prefects for 2025 and hear about their plans for the months ahead, and to deliver a short overview of the Legacy Fund’s growth over the last six months.
Thank you to all who could attend, and to the ever-increasing number of Fund supporters around the globe for committing to the future of the Schools.
Please use the tabs for details of Mr de Waal’s report and Bruce Igilige & Zach Gibbon’s vision as WBHS student leaders.
Dear Legacy Fund Members & Prospective Members
Herewith is the second report to our members for 2024. I am pleased to inform you that there have been significant developments since our last communication in February this year and I extend a special welcome to the new contributors who have joined the fund since February and who have added significant value and possibilities for the fund. We remain firmly on track to reach our target of R100 million in pledges/contributions by the end of December 2027.
Heritage Week
Despite some challenging weather conditions, it was great to welcome back so many Old Boys to the school during the week. For me, one of the highlights was the re-opening of the renovated Oude Wijnberg Museum. I took the 1974 group on a tour of the school which ended at the museum, and it was remarkable how informative the group found the museum to be. It is open on Tuesday afternoons or by arrangement with Tania Robertze and well worth a visit when you are next on campus.
The Old Boys’ dinner was well supported by close to 300 Old Boys and it was pleasing to see so many Legacy Fund ties on display. Thank you to those who were able to make it on the night. A great evening!
The sports fixtures were exciting with honours for the week being virtually even between Wynberg and SACS. The Nussbaum music evening was a wonderful exhibition of our exceptionally talented young musicians, and the Founders Day ceremony was a moving occasion with the 2014 Head Prefect, Dr Raythaan Addinall making a thought-provoking speech. All in all, I think everyone who was part of the week left feeling that Wynberg is in a good space with the boys being fully involved and happy. Many of the older generations find the friendly atmosphere and diverse student body a welcome change to what they remember. Certainly, Wynberg is a school worth supporting and giving young men the opportunity to attend.
As was the case last year, I made some valuable contacts with Old Boys interested in contributing to the Fund during Heritage Week and am currently following up with these individuals.
Background to the Legacy Fund
The aim of the Fund is to instill a culture of giving back to their Alma Mater amongst Wynberg Old Boys. The Fund is an endowment fund that focuses on giving financial assistance to students who would not ordinarily be able to afford to attend Wynberg as well as assisting the school with capital infrastructure projects.
The fund is administered by the Supera Moras Trust and all contributions are now not only tax deductible in South Africa but also globally in countries such as the UK, various European countries, the USA, Australia, and New Zealand via the Trust Bridge Global Foundation, a Swiss Donor Advised Fund platform that provides cross-border grant-making advice to donors who wish to support charities and foundations anywhere around the world.
Contributions to the Legacy Fund can be made in three ways: a once-off contribution; a monthly, quarterly, or annual contribution, or a pledge in the will of the contributor. Preferably it will be a combination of at least two of these options. Thus, this is a long-term project with the benefits often only accruing into the future.
I once again appeal to all members to get fellow Old Boys to contribute to the fund and make a pledge in their will, which remains the most tax-efficient way of contributing to the fund.
Current Status of the Fund
Below please find a conservative summary of the financial status of the Fund as at 31 July 2024.
Pledges in Wills: R32 000 000 (conservative estimate)
Legacy Bursary Funds
Jowell Fund: R1 400 000
Legacy Bursary Fund: R1 800 000
Leadership Bursary Fund: R5 650 000
Academic Bursary Fund: R630 000
Total Invested: R 9 480 000
Other Bursary Funds
Academic Bursary Fund: R630 000 pa
Individual Student Bursaries: R300 000 pa
Technical Bursary: R60 000 pa
Monthly/Annual Contributions: R =1 800 000 pa
Total Annual Contributions: R2 790 000 pa
Other Funds
Legacy General Fund: R1 650 000
Legacy Building Fund: R2 000 000
Students supported by the Fund
The 5 students we are supporting at the school this year continue to do well. The exciting news is that with the Leadership, Technical, and Academic Scholarships kicking in from next year, the number of students we will be supporting will increase by a minimum of 5 per year over the next five years. This means that at current contribution levels, the Legacy Fund will be supporting 35 students at the school by 2029.
As the Fund grows, we will endeavor to support an even greater number of students in the future.
Indoor Cricket Centre
In my August 2023 report, I explained the rationale behind moving our focus from the Bill Bowden Pavilion to the Indoor Cricket Centre of which construction has already started. The location is the old tennis court next to the Gym. Final figures for the project have come in at R8.8 million, which means that the shortfall is R2.8 million which the school is still trying to raise. Any further contributions from members either in kind or financial to boost the R3 million already committed to this worthy project by the Fund will be highly appreciated.
As is the case with the Engineering block, all donors to the indoor centre will be acknowledged on a board at the entrance to the facility.
A few reminders
- All members of the fund who contribute monthly, please check that your payments are still being made every month.
- Those who contribute annually, please make the payments at the time specified on your pledge form.
- All members who have pledged money in their will are requested to ensure that their wills have been updated accordingly. Don’t put this off.
- If you have not received a tax certificate for the 23/24 tax year and would like one, please let me know.
In conclusion, I thank you for your support and appeal to you all to promote the fund and encourage fellow Wynberg Old Boys to join us in securing the future of Wynberg.
Jan de Waal
Bruce Igilige and Zachary Gibbon, and the prefect body have done a lot of planning in creating our vision for 2025.
It all starts with stating that life is not a spectator sport; if all you’re going to do is watch, then you’re going to watch life go by without you. Are you making the most of all your opportunities? Are you truly living life or just existing?
So, our goal for next year is to make every Wynberg Man better. We want fewer spectators at school. We do not want a school of boys who can only do one thing. We want to create all-rounders; we want to create men who will be ready for the real world after school.
It is great to have a vision for your school, but it is only effective when every prefect sets their own goals under their portfolio that links with your overall vision. By doing this, everyone has a plan they will follow, taking different directions but ending in the same destination.
A core part of our vision is reigniting the true Wynberg DNA. Respect is often spoken about in assemblies alongside uniform standards, friendliness, and manners. However, these values are not consistently carried outside the school. It seems boys embody the Wynberg Man ideal only when wearing the blazer. Our goal is to instill in every boy that the Wynberg DNA is not only tied to appearance but must be reflected in their character and actions, both in and out of school. We aim to ensure that respect, pride, and integrity define Wynberg Men at all times.
Actions Taken in Term 4
- Collaboration: Held meetings with Wynberg Girls’ High and Springfield to foster partnerships and plan joint initiatives for 2025.
- Head Prefect Forum: Hosted a meeting with head prefects and deputies from multiple schools, discussing shared challenges and improvements.
- Societies Organisation: Introduced WhatsApp Communities for societies, simplifying group management and adding QR codes in 2025 diaries for seamless access.
- Social Media: Strengthened our presence through videos supporting awareness campaigns, such as the breast cancer awareness video, to inspire and engage the community.
Bruce Igilige and Zachary Gibbon