It is with great privilege, anticipation and honour that I look forward to welcoming all of you to the launch of the Vela Langa SSS Alumni Association in Whittelesea (Hewu, Lower Didimana).

The upcoming launch of this alumni association, coupled with the inaugural Gala Dinner will mark the beginning of a significant chapter in our collective story, one that will reconnect us with our roots and deep history to lay the foundation for a renewed vision for the future of Vela Langa School and re-established it as Education Centre and Intellectual Public Space for post matric educational opportunities.

There’s no doubt that this will not only give our deserted school a new facelift, but will profoundly profile our place of birth and inherent efforts of enhancing our remarkable public memory.

This event will also carry a deeply meaningful dimension, as we will gather to honour and bid farewell to our greatest of all and the legendary English teacher of our time Mr Cyril Muwonge, one who made many of us and a vital cog of our school’s history. His unwavering commitment, leadership, and service shaped generations of learners, and it is fitting that his farewell takes place alongside the rebirth of the alumni chapter. As we celebrate him, we are reminded that VelaLanga’s strength has always been carried through the hands and hearts of those who served it with dedication.

Although the school is no longer operational, its spirit continues to live through all of us who once walked its corridors. The formation of this alumni chapter will stand as a powerful reminder thatthe legacy of Vela Langa did not end when the doors closed, it simply transitioned into the care of its former learners, educators, and community members.

This launch will allow us to honour that legacy while committing ourselves to rebuilding its presence in a meaningful and impactful way.

As we reconnect with one another, we also look forward to reconnecting with the peers and colleagues who worked and walked alongside Mr. Muwonge, those who laid the same foundation that has shaped all of us.

In addition, we extend a heartfelt invitation to our parents, the very people who built Vela Langa with their monies, the believers who entrusted Vela Langa with our futures. We want them to join us on this journey, stand beside us as we begin this new chapter as their offsprings who now return to uplift the very institution that once uplifted us.

Our vision as an alumni association is centred on restoring Vela Langa as a symbol of socioeconomic empowerment, resilience, and community development. One of our core objectives is to support the transformation of the school into a vibrant skills development centre that will serve future generations.

As alumni, we carry the collective responsibility of ensuring that Vela Langa continues to positively touch lives far beyond our own.

The Gala Dinner will not only celebrate our shared history; it will also serve as a catalyst call to developmental action.

I hope that every alumnus and supporter will use this moment to reflect on how they can contribute to this renewed mission and vision.

Our collective unity, commitment, and shared purpose will determine the success of the association and the impact we seek to create.

I express my sincere appreciation in advance to the organising committee, partners, private sector partners, community partners and supporters who are working tirelessly to bring this effort into life.

Your dedication affirms that the heartbeat of Vela Langa continues to pulse strongly within its community and beyond. May the day of the December 18, 2025 provoke and inspire a renewed sense of pride, belonging, and collaboration. I look forward to the moment we gather to officially begin this journey of rebuilding, restoring, and reimagining the legacy of Vela Langa Secondary School, all for the benefit of the future of our children.

* Mphumzi Mdekazi Chairperson, Vela Langa SSS Alumni Association.

** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media. 

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