Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool

The Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Afrikaans High School for Boys) also known as Affies, is a public high school for boys situated in the city of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa, opposite the world famous rugby stadium and home of the Blue Bulls, Loftus Versfeld.

The school's founding on 28 November 1920 marked the creation of the first purely Afrikaans-medium school in South Africa. This event predated the official recognition of the Afrikaans language by five years. The school is well known throughout South Africa for its high academic standards and producing numerous leaders in all walks of life.

Early history

The school was initially housed in the home of General Piet Joubert at 218 Visagie Street, Pretoria. By 1927, years the school had grown to such an extent that new premises were required and the school was subsequently moved to the current premises of the Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool. At the end of 1927, the school took over the Hogere Oosteindschool, a Dutch-medium instruction school, suggestive of the demise of Dutch as a language in South Africa and the ensuing adoption of Afrikaans as the primary instruction medium.

By 1929 this building had also run out of space and the decision was made to split the boys and girls into separate schools, thus creating the first separate Afrikaans boys' and girls' schools in South Africa.

Buildings

The school is currently building an Astro Turf which is scheduled for August 2007 and there are also a boarding-house and a few school- and memorial buildings.

chool Anthem

Daar ruis uit Pretoria
die roep tot verre trans
van duisende stemme
vir jou, ou Afrikaans!
Dit bind ons tesame,
die naam van ons trou
soos berge so stewig gebou vir jou!
Ons bring jou ons hulde,
jou lig sal ons dra tot ver oor ons wye Suid-Afrika.

Ons staan vir ons Nasie,
ons Taal en ons Land,
Gestaal vir die stryd om jou lig te laat brand.
Ons grootse verlede;
die hede se krag
Gee moed en vertroue
vir dit wat daar wag.
Ons bring jou ons hulde
jou lig sal ons dra
tot ver oor ons wye Suid-Afrika.

"Words & Music: Mr and Ms Carel van Heerden (1952)"

Code of Honour

In ons skool gee ons die ereplek aan God en Sy Woord en streef die Christelike lewensbeginsels na. (Translation - In our school we give the place of honour to God and His Word and strive to live by Christian principles.)
Ons is dankbaar vir die talente wat ons van God ontvang het en wend dit aan tot Sy eer. (Translation - We are thankful for the talents that we have received from God and apply them to His honour.)
Ons streef daarna om hulpvaardig te wees en om te dien. (Translation - We strive to be helpful and to serve.)
Ons gehoorsaam en eer ons ouers en onderwysers en gedra ons hoflik teenoor alle mense, veral teenoor dames en ons meerderes. (We are obedient and honour our parents and teachers and behave ourselves civilly towards all people, especially towards women and to our elders.)
Ons woord is ons eer. (Translation - Our word is our honour.)
Ons glo in selfbeheersing, selfdissipline, nederigheid en lojaliteit. (Translation - We believe in self-control, self-discipline, humbleness and loyalty.)
Ons dien ons skool getrou en handhaaf sy goeie naam met woord en daad. (Translation - we serve our school with faithfullness, and maintain its good name in word and deed.)
Ons hou onsself en ons omgewing rein en skoon. (Translation - We keep ourselves and our environment pure and clean.)
Ons staan vir ons Taal, ons Nasie en ons Land. (Translation - We stand for our Language, our Nation, and our Land.)

List of Notable Old Affies

*Louis Schmidt (1954) : Springbok rugby player 1958 and 1962, and the original Blue Bull
*Tonie Roux (1964) : Springbok rugby player 1969 to 1974
*Pierre Edwards (1970) : Springbok rugby player 1980, and current head master
*Johan Kriek (1976) : South African tennis player, two times winner of Australian Open singles title
*Danie Visser (1979) : South African tennis player, three times Grand Slam doubles winner
*Grant Esterhuizen (1994) : Springbok rugby player 2000
*Johan Roets (1996) : South Africa A and Bulls Super 14 rugby player
*Skipper Badenhorst (1996) : Natal Sharks / SA Under 21 rugby player
*Nicolaas Alberts (1996) : Springbok Sevens Rugby Player and Cambridge University Triple Blue (Rugby,Cricket and Athletics)
*Eugene Marx (1996) : SA under 21
*Edward Coetzee (1997) : Natal Sharks rugby player
*Jacques Rudolph (1999) : South African international cricket player 2003 to 2006
*Fourie du Preez (2000) : Springbok rugby player 2004 to 2006
*Wynand Olivier (2001) : Springbok rugby player 2006
*Jacques Freitag (2000) : South African Olympic high jumper, gold medalist at 2003 IAAF World Championship
*AB de Villiers (2002) : South African international cricket player 2004 to 2008
*Pierre Spies (2003) : Springbok rugby player 2006
*Faf Du Plesis: Titans cricket player
*Kruger Van Wyk: TItans and South Africa A cricket player
*Heino Kuhn: Titans cricket player
*Sarel Potgieter: WP rugby player
*Derick Kunn: Blue Bulls rugby player

External links

* [http://www.affie.net/ Official school site]
* [http://www.affies.com/ Affies Alumni]