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Paarl Gimnasium is a public Afrikaans medium co-educational high school situated in the city of Paarl in the Western Cape province of South Africa.

History

Rev. van der Lingen founded the school in the centre of town in 1858. The school has produced some of South Africa's top rugby players, including Schalk Burger, Jean De Villiers, Marius Joubert, Handré Pollard and De Wet Barry. Other alumni include the theologian Stephanus Jacobus du Toit and politician Liezl van der Merwe.

The primary school section of Gimnasium was founded in 1858 as a Dutch Christian school for boys, with the high school being founded much later. In the mid-1930s the school's language of education shifted to Afrikaans. After the high school section was completed the school enrolled its first female student.

Paarl Gimnasium High School has a large sporting program and takes part in the interschools tournament against Paarl Boys' High School, an event which attracts tens of thousands of spectators every year. In August 2024 the netball team won the Kay Motsepe league and earned a spot to represent South Africa in Singapore with Leifo-Iziko Secondary School from Petsana Reitz, Free State. In November 2024 the netball team took first place and won gold in Singapore while Leifo-Iziko took the third place, earning a bronze.

Notable alumni

Springbok Rugby

Other

• Marciel Hopkins, model and Boer Soek 'n Vrou presenter
• Marguerite Wheatley, actress
• Perlé van Schalkwyk, businesswoman and owner of the Lollipop Lounge
• Liezl van der Merwe, Member of the National Assembly of South Africa
• Mandy Rossouw, journalist
• Martelize Brink, author and radio presenter
• Kiewiet, 2002 Alumnus & Draadspanner

References

1. Giliomee, Hermann (2003). "The" Afrikaners: Biography of a People. London: C Hurst & Co. p. 215. ISBN 1-85065-714-9.
2. "Paarl Gimnasium and Leifo Iziko Win Big at Kay Motsepe Schools Netball Championship". www.schools4sa.co.za. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
3. "Paarl Gimnasium and Leifo Iziko Win Big at Kay Motsepe Schools Netball Championship". www.schools4sa.co.za. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
4. Moloi, By Tladi (2024-12-06). "SA schools clinch top spots at international netball tournament". GroundUp News. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
5. "Miss South Africa finalist". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 2022-08-03.
6. Nel, Ronel. "Marguerite Wheatley: Terug Weskus toe! (sommer kaalvoet)". Sarie (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 2022-08-03.
7. Beyers, Lise. "GiGi: From Perlé of Paarl to top stripper". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 2022-08-03.
8. "Liezl Linda van der Merwe". People's Assembly. Retrieved 2022-08-03.
9. "Statement on the passing of Mandy Rossouw". News24. Retrieved 2022-08-03.
10. Hudson, Mari (2022-05-30). "Ontmoet onverskrokke Martelize Brink". RSGplus (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 2022-08-03.
11. Hudson, Mari (2022-05-30). "Ontmoet onverskrokke Martelize Brink". RSGplus (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 2022-08-03.

External links

• Official website (in Afrikaans)

• Schools in the Western Cape
• Paarl
• Educational institutions established in 1858
• 1858 establishments in the British Empire