Few would argue that schools named "stab him" and "prison" do not inspire academic excellence. But seven years after the KwaZulu-Natal education department urged a change, the names have stuck.
Mathangetshitshi (thighs of a virgin) High School in Nongoma, Mgwazeni (stab him) High in Mtubatuba and Tilongo (prison) Primary in Mid-Illovo are among 15 school names in the province that are deemed "uninspiring" and "inappropriate".
Hendrik Verwoerd High School in Pretoria applied in 2016 to the Gauteng education department to change its name to Rietondale High School. It has not received official approval from the department but the MEC for education in Gauteng, Panyaza Lesufi, announced the new name on Twitter on May 20.
Hottentots-Holland High in Somerset West, Western Cape, and schools named after apartheid politicians have not applied for a name change.
A KwaZulu-Natal education department document from 2012 showed districts had been told to consult local communities and reach agreement on whether to change names. A spokesperson of the department did not respond to questions on the matter.
Bongekile Kubheka, an African languages specialist working at the Gauteng education department, said the names of the KwaZulu-Natal schools were "offensive".
But Thembeni Mthethwa, an IFP spokesperson for education in KwaZulu-Natal, said the names honoured those who had contributed positively to the community. "The community is saying we love the name and we know the history behind the name," she said.
Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini's spokesperson, Prince Thulani Zulu, said names should not be changed without consultation.
"The issue could be resolved amicably without communities complaining that their history is being erased," he said.
Olga Veldsman, the chair of the governing body of Hendrik Verwoerd High, said the school had not been officially informed of the approval of the new name. Lesufi said he would unveil the new name in September. He said the request had been submitted to government departments for approval.
"As soon as those government departments approve, we will notify the school," he said.
If you say hottentot, who are you referring to? The word is equivalent to the K-word
— Pedro Dausab, the chair of the Khoi and San language at the Pan South African Language Board
Pedro Dausab, the chair of the Khoi and San language at the Pan South African Language Board, said the name Hottentots-Holland High was "obscene".
"The name must be changed," he said. "If you say hottentot, who are you referring to? The word is equivalent to the K-word."
Jessica Shelver, a spokesperson for Western Cape education MEC Debbie Schäfer, said: "I don't think it would be fair for us to say what names are offensive and what names aren't as the department has no power to change the name of a school.
"If anyone in the school community finds a name of a school offensive, they should approach the governing body, who can follow due process to change the name."
She said the department had not received any complaints about school names, even after Schafer had asked for submissions in 2015.
The Federation of Governing Bodies of South African Schools said it was not aware of any school in Gauteng, except Hendrik Verwoerd High, that was to be changed.
Gauteng schools named after apartheid-era politicians or former government leaders include General Smuts High (Vereeniging), John Vorster Technical High School (Nigel), Marais Viljoen High (Alberton), Nico Diederichs Technical High (Krugersdorp) and CR Swart High in Pretoria.
Northern Cape education department spokesperson Geoffrey van der Merwe said Boesmanland High School in Pofadder was not derogatory. "It refers to the Bushmen, the aboriginal people of Southern Africa who are still living in the province in Boesmanland."
Limpopo's education department said it had not received complaints about school names. The Free State department said a school's governing body had the power to change a name.
Gushwell Brooks, a spokesperson for the Human Rights Commission, said: "Where names and symbols are no longer reflective of our value systems, then having the controversial and difficult debates around the changing of school names is an important step in our society." - Additional reporting by Bongani Mthethwa
