Timeline of Notable Events
Former teachers and pupils of St Mark’s College have gone on to make a mark in their respective fields of work both in South Africa and internationally. While the list below is inexhaustive, it nevertheless captures the spirit of St Mark’s College of unparalleled academic excellence and the indefatigable quest for a better society.
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1985 |
St Mark's College opens its doors to the first cohort of learners |
|
1990 |
UCT Awards Peter Anderson with a Master of Education degree, honoris causa |
|
1990 |
Mamongae Mahlare won the Science Olympiad and represented South Africa in London |
|
1990 |
The first cohort writes matric examinations |
|
1991 |
Future president Nelson Mandela visits St Mark's College |
|
1991 |
Refiloe (Professor) Masekela and Katlego Mpuru deliver the first matric distinctions for the school |
|
1993 |
Vincent Makola (Doctor) wins the Science Olympiad and represents South Africa in London |
|
1994 |
Archbishop Desmond Tutu opens Batamelanang, John Tsebe and Norah Tsebe dormitories |
|
1995 |
Mamongae Mahlare becomes the first black woman in history to be awarded a BSc in Chemical Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand |
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1997 |
De Mont University awards Peter Anderson with a Doctor of Philosophy degree, honoris causa |
|
1997 |
Elisabeth Anderson retires from St Mark’s College |
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1998 |
Peter Anderson retires from St Mark's College |
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1998 |
Ranti Mothapo becomes the first learner in Northern Province to score 100% in Mathematics at matric |
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1998 |
Mokgome Mogoba becomes the first learner in Northern Province to score 100% in Physical Science at matric |
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1999 |
Noko Phala becomes the youngest person in history to complete a BSc in Chemical Engineering degree at the University of Cape Town |
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2003 |
Ranti Mothapo becomes South Africa's first black actuary and setting a standing record as the youngest person to qualify as an Actuary |
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2003 |
St Mark’s Debating Team wins the Limpopo Provincial Debating Championships |
|
2003 |
St Mark’s Debating Team Represents Limpopo Province at the National Debating Championships held at Kearsney College, Kwa-Zulu Natal |
|
2005 |
Lerato Marivate (nee Nkadimeng) qualifies as a medical doctor from UCT. |
|
2006 |
Kagiso Thobejane was named Limpopo Province’s best learner in Economics HG for the Matric Class of 2006 |
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2006 |
Kgolane Thobejane ranked the fourth best learner in Limpopo Province for the Matric Class of 2006 |
|
2008 |
Elias Phaahla (Class of 2004) wins the coveted Mandela Rhodes Scholarship, the sister programme to the Rhodes Scholarship tenable at the University of Oxford |
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2017 |
Richard Croker, former teacher volunteer from the U.K., and debating coach to the 2003 Provincial Debating Champions team from St Mark’s is awarded an OBE on the occasion of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Birthday Honours |
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2017 |
Elias Phaahla was named as one of the Top 200 Young South Africans under 35 by the Mail and Guardian |
|
2021 |
Mamongae Mahlare (Class of 1990) was appointed Group Chief Executive of Takealot |
|
2022 |
Mrs Kolobe Philiah Makgoka, the longest-serving member of staff and History teacher at St Mark’s, obtained a PhD in Education from the University of South Africa (UNISA) |
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2023 |
Butsi Tladi (Class of 1991) appointed President of the World Federation of Insurance Intermediaries (WFII) in Singapore |
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2023 |
Madume Kubjane (Class of 2009) obtained a PhD in Biostatistics and Epidemiology from UCT. She is the first former pupil to be awarded a PhD after attending all three constituent schools of St Mark’s. |