Rector’s eNews 11: 25 March 2026

In our Full School Eucharist Service on Sunday evening Bishop Michael Nuttall unveiled a bust of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. It was a real privilege to have Bishop Michael back at Michaelhouse. While he himself was schooled at Maritzburg College, his grandsons attended Michaelhouse. However, more significantly, as Bishop of Natal (1982 – 2000), Bishop Michael Nuttall was a Visitor to Michaelhouse. During these years he would have presided at our Confirmation Service and would have confirmed hundreds of Michaelhouse boys. Appropriately we ended the service with Bishop Nuttall’s prayer for Michaelhouse. Bishop Nuttall was admitted Ad Portas in 1999. Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s contributions to South Africa, and indeed the world, are well documented. Less well known is that he was a Patron of the Michaelhouse UK Trust, he spoke at Speech Day in our centenary year in 1996 and was admitted Ad Portas in 1994. Next to the bust is a plaque documenting Desmond Tutu’s life of service. At the bottom of the plaque is a quote by him, “My humanity is bound up in yours and we can only be human together”.

It seems fitting that the unveiling took place over the Human Rights Day weekend. On Monday in assembly our boys had the privilege of hearing from Ms Mbali Ntuli, a formidable voice in South African civil society and politics. As we reflected on the weight of human rights in our current climate, Ms Ntuli brought a message that was both a challenge and a call to action. In a high school context, especially an independent one, the message of moving from privilege to participation is crucial.

 A highlight of the session was Ms. Ntuli’s discussion regarding her work with the Ground Work Collective (GWC). This initiative serves as a blueprint for the kind of active citizenship we encourage at our school. Rather than a dry lecture on history, she focused on the future, specifically, how our boys can shape it. She encouraged the boys to get involved in political processes. She argued that if young, capable leaders opt out of the conversation, they effectively hand over their right to decide what their future looks like.

Ms. Ntuli’s visit reminded us that the South Africa of 2030 and 2040 will be defined by the courage of the young men of Michaelhouse. We want our boys to graduate not just with a certificate, but with a deep sense of responsibility to their country.

On Saturday, our B Block boys enjoyed the B Block Formal held in the Senior Dining Hall and a marquee in the Main Quad. Below is a glimpse of where the boys enjoyed their Formal with their partners.

As we reach the end of a busy term, we wish our parents happy holidays with your boys. We hope you will enjoy having them at home just as much as we have enjoyed having them at school. We wish you and your family a blessed Easter. We look forward to welcoming your son back, well rested and with his hair cut, raring to go for what promises to be a busy and exciting Pentecost Quarter.

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