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Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

KwaMpundu Class of 1981

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Yup – I am a proud Old Grey (KwaMpundu) Boy from the Class of 1981.

Re-reading one of the classic Cricket history books of modern times; “The Story of an African Game” by André Odendaal dished up a small snippet of gigantic trivial pursuit proportions.

In the book reference is made to the first African adult rugby club formed in what is now known as Gqeberha – the Union Rugby Football Club was formed in 1887. Rugby historian, Braber Ngozi says that the club was started by “kitchen boys who learned their rugby from Whites.”

Among those involved were leading figures from the local Native Vigilance Committee and the headquarters of the club were at KwaMpundu in the present Mill Park on the site where Grey High School is located.

So if the Grey Schools want to ever change their name to be very representative of their roots might I suggest using the word, “KwaMpundu”? Which may be quite descriptive in describing BOTH Junior and High Schools (see translation below).

AND, just in case the Provincial Hospital does the same, did you know that the site that the Provincial Hospital now stands on was once known as Dubula?

FYI:

  • Mpundu is a surname of the Bemba tribe, meaning: twin. (In Xhosa Amawele is Twins).
  • Dubula means to shoot or to kill – kinda fitting for a hospital!

BUT – the plot thickens as the Bemba tribe are from Zambia.

Alan Straton at Grey (KwaMphundu?) Junior School sometime in the last century!!

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.