The headmaster of Hilton College, South Africa’s most expensive school, has told parents to “ditch the opulence”, rein it in on expensive marquees and catering and stop behaving badly at the annual Hilton/Michaelhouse rugby derby.
In a letter to parents — many of whom are resident in Gauteng — written days after this year’s derby on June 21, George Harris said he had noticed a “growing tendency towards one-upmanship in the scale of hosting and catering” around the field of the posh KwaZulu-Natal school.
“When hospitality and generosity become self-serving displays of opulence, they begin to pull us away from who we aspire to be as a community,” he said.
Sources who attended the event and past events said the opulence was actually toned down this year — apparently because hosts Hilton — whose annual fees this year were R420,729 — strategically did not provide electricity for catering.
However, there was still one large, white marquee with expensive furniture, carpets and décor.
In previous years some parents hired “top notch” caterers — making what is a rugby match between two rival schools on par with hospitality tents at the Durban July, featuring canapés such as charcuterie boards, bao buns, sushi and pâtés, extensive buffets including seafood and a premium bar.
In his letter, Harris said: “My request is that we think about our plans for 2026 and determine to ditch the opulence in favour of a wholesome hospitality devoid of showmanship and loud extravagance.
“When this extravagance stretches into over-consumption, the messaging we send to our children is awkwardly wrong. The amount of litter left after the event this year was distressing — I know we can do better than this.”
He said security staff had also noted “growing levels of aggression and entitlement” from spectators refusing to park in designated parking areas and resorting to verbal abuse.
“This too is inconsistent with the values that both schools hold dear. These days are such memorable occasions and my hope is that we, as adults, can self-regulate such that they stay memorable.”
Harris used as an example the derby to the Masters Tournament held annually at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, which two of his friends attended this year.
“The Masters is known for its unique traditions, particularly when it comes to patron behaviour. One such tradition is the strict ban on mobile phones anywhere on the course. Another is the rule about seating, only simple green Augusta chairs are permitted — nothing more.
“Some find these idiosyncrasies irritating. Others revel in them. They are part of what sets The Masters apart from other sporting events,” Harris wrote.
“If we think about our derby in a similar vein, perhaps now is the time to establish traditions that will preserve its essence for generations to come.”
One parent told the Sunday Times there were those like him who “pitched up with a cooler box” while others wanted to watch the game from “luxury sofas while being served by black-tied waiters”.
“I understand where they are coming from. These people are used to a particular lifestyle. They go out to fine restaurants and when they watch sports, they want the same experience. But honestly, its excessive and I completely agree with the principal,” the father said.
He said while he wasn’t aware of parents behaving badly, he said he could understand how a two-hour delay to get out of the parking area would not go down well with parents who had a “few too many”.
While Harris is out of the country, Hilton College’s director of advancement, Pete Storrar, told the Sunday Times the response to the principal’s letter was “overwhelmingly positive”.
“We are encouraging a more modest and toned-down affair.
“Our headmaster, George Harris, wrote the letter independently. That said, Hilton College and Michaelhouse share similar values,” he said. The letter was shared with the entire Hilton community, including alumni.
Storrar said the decision not to provide electricity to gazebos was primarily a safety precaution, given the risk of fire.
He said this kind of opulence was not seen as a broader issue across school events or culture, but rather as an anomaly, which is why Harris addressed it.
“While Hilton College is a privileged place, we work hard to instil humility. Our dorms are modest, our food is wholesome and unpretentious and a third of our boys are on financial assistance, so the opulence at the derby day doesn’t reflect our values. Also, some spectators aren’t directly associated with either school community. We’re simply asking for the event to better reflect our values.
“Old boys often attend to relive their school days, unbound by school rules, and can unintentionally add to a sense of indulgence — which can be unhelpful.”
Michaelhouse Old Boys’ Club president Richard Bates said the club was “cognisant of the pageantry which for the longest time has been a largely innocuous aspect of the biannual Hilton Michaelhouse derby”.
“But being mindful of the privilege of attending schools like ours, (the club) is fully in support of the school’s board and rector Mr Antony Clark’s emphasis in recent years on a move away from displays of excess in favour of humility and respect for the greater community, particularly at high-profile events such as the Michaelhouse-Hilton derby.”
Bates is in dialogue with the chair and past chair of the Old Hiltonian Society, Scott Rutherfoord and Anton Jooste, to align a communication plan for engaging with their communities ahead of next year’s events.
“George Harris’s suggestion that visitors to the derby should only bring to the event what they can carry themselves — originally regarding chairs — is one we support and feel should apply more broadly, including to catering and general hospitality. These are practical and symbolic ways to promote a more grounded and inclusive experience for all.”
In a radio interview, Kearsney College Old Boys president Mhlangenkululeko Siwisa said he supported Harris’s call.
He said, having attended many events at Hilton and Michaelhouse over the years, the shift was a reflection of society driven by “conspicuous consumerism”.
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