# Paarl Boys' High School

Paarl Boys' High School, known in Afrikaans as Hoër Jongenskool Paarl (or Boishaai), is a public dual-medium high school for boys and is one of the oldest schools in South Africa, built in 1868. The school is situated in Paarl, a town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. The first headmaster of the school was George Jeffreys. Effective as of 2007, the headmaster of the school is Derek Swart.

## War cry

The Paarl Boys' High war cry, or 'Kreet', has changed much over the years, but the current war cry is as follows:
   Shimalaya wha! Shimalaya wha! HJS HJS Wha 'sop – 'sop 'sop 'sop We are – we are HJS HJS Wha 'sop, Shimalaya wha!

## Headmasters

| Name | Started | Finished |
| G Jeffreys | 1868 | 1873 |
| J Hoffman | 1873 | 1876 |
| T Walker | 1876 | 1877 |
| H Nixon | 1878 | 1882 |
| B le Roux | 1882 | 1887 |
| J Zahn | 1887 | 1888 |
| J Rettie | 1889 | 1895 |
| CEZ Watermeyer | 1896 | 1896 |
| MC Fourie | 1897 | 1901 |
| PJ du Pré le Roux | 1901 | 1924 |
| SJ Malherbe | 1924 | 1940 |
| GJ Pretorius | 1941 | 1958 |
| Dr JAC Visagie | 1959 | 1960 |
| HA Lambrechts | 1961 | 1961 |
| Dr PS Meyer | 1962 | 1966 |
| CD Koch | 1967 | 1974 |
| TW Engela | 1975 | 1989 |
| L Knoetze | 1990 | 2007 |
| D Swart | 2007 | present |

## Early history

The first building to house the school was a granary on Zeederbergplein, the owner of which was D Beyers. The first years of the school were unstable ones, with the school increasing in size every year, and larger facilities were required frequently. The grounds on which the school stands today were originally formed part of the farm Berlyn owned by PJ Malherbe. A certain Mr Moll purchased the farm and donated the land to the school.
In 1901 PJ du Pré Le Roux became headmaster. Du Pré Le Roux was the first headmaster to establish the school and remained at the reins for over two decades. Le Roux also saw the construction of the boarding hostels of Monte Bello (1901), Bellevue (1904), Villieria (1907), Berlyn (1908) and Imhoff (1923). The hostels of Berlyn and Villieria were dismantled and were replaced by another hostel, namely Werda.

## Sport

Each year the school takes part in one of the biggest interschool events in South Africa against its arch-rival, Paarl Gimnasium High School. The main event (the u/19A rugby match) attracts over 20 000 spectators to the Faure Street Stadium. The school has produced many Springboks, from Boy Louw, Mannetjies Roux and "Prince of Wings" Carel du Plessis, to more recent players like Corné Krige (former Springbok Captain), Gurthro Steenkamp, Frans Malherbe, Thomas du Toit, Salmaan Moerat and Evan Roos.
Other sports that are also included in the interschool events are: field hockey, cricket, swimming, tennis, chess, golf, Golfing professional, David Frost, also matriculated at Paarl Boys' High. Paarl Boys' High School is currently ranked as one of the top rugby schools in South Africa.
Students of the two schools have traditional nicknames; the Boishaaiers are known as 'galpille' and the Gimmies as 'bloedworse'.

## Notable old boys

List of the old boys that were matriculated in Paarl Boys High School.
* Wium Basson – South African rugby player
* Jim Fouché (Class of 1924) – Former State President of South Africa
* Bjorn Fortuin – South African cricketer
* David Frost – South African golfer
* Corné Krige – South African rugby player
* Christo Wiese – South African businessman and billionaire
* Jean-Luc du Plessis – Provincial rugby player
* Wilhelm van der Sluys – Provincial rugby player
* Thomas du Toit (Class of 2013) – South African rugby player
* Boy Louw (Class of 1924) – South African rugby player
* Eugène Marais – South African barrister, poet and writer
* Dawid Malan – English professional cricketer
* Frans Malherbe – South African rugby player
* David Meihuizen – South African rugby player
* Carel du Plessis – South African rugby player
* Evan Roos – South African rugby player
* Mannetjies Roux – South African rugby player
* Gurthrö Steenkamp (Class of 2000) – South African rugby player
* Salmaan Moerat – South African rugby player
* Karl Kielblock – author