MEC MAILE LAUNCHES CLAPHAM SPORTS SCHOOL OF SPECIALISATION AS GAUTENG’S 40TH SCHOOL OF SPECIALISATION
Gauteng MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Lebogang Maile, today officially launched the Clapham Sports School of Specialisation in Queenswood, Pretoria, marking Gauteng’s 40th School of Specialisation and the fourth School of Specialisation specialising in Sports.
The launch brought together learners, educators, community stakeholders and sporting figures, including Mamelodi Sundowns Chairman, Tlhopane Motsepe, who was accompanied by former Sundowns players.
Their presence reflected Clapham’s longstanding partnership with the Mamelodi Sundowns Academy, which dates back to 2012 and has played an important role in developing young football talent.
During the launch, learners showcased the breadth of Clapham’s sporting and educational offering through demonstrations in football, netball, basketball, volleyball, tennis and chess, as well as E Sports. Learners also showcased vocational education and training, Consumer Studies and the school’s “Voices On The Rise” podcast initiative.
The demonstrations highlighted how the Sports School of Specialisation model brings together sporting development, academic education, practical skills and emerging areas of opportunity to create well rounded young people.
“Today, we are not simply launching another School of Specialisation. We are strengthening an institution that already has a proud history of academic and sporting excellence and giving it an even stronger platform to develop the talent of our young people,” said MEC Maile.
Clapham was established in 1948 and has operated from its current Queenswood site since 1955. The school has maintained a National Senior Certificate pass rate above 90%, recording 94% in 2023, 97% in 2024 and 91.3% in 2025.
Its sporting achievements have been particularly significant. Clapham has established itself as a powerhouse in school football and has played an important role in developing players who have gone on to professional and international careers.
Former learners include Samukele Kabini, Keletso Makgalwa, Thato Matli, Thabo Moloisane, Malebogo Modise, Bennet Mokoena, Malibongwe Khoza, Motjeka Madisha, Khayalihle Shozi, Percy Tau and Cassius Mailula, among others.
The school’s contribution to football development has extended to the international stage, with Samukele Kabini included in the South African squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while other former learners have progressed to professional football in South Africa and abroad.
Several former Clapham learners have also progressed through the Mamelodi Sundowns system and into professional football, reinforcing the importance of the longstanding partnership between the school and the club.
Clapham has also achieved major success at school level, including winning the CAF African Schools Championship boys’ title in Malawi, the Gauteng Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Championship and the inaugural Gauteng Schools Football Champions League.
The school was also nominated for School Team of the Year at the South African Sport Awards, further recognising its contribution to the development of young sporting talent.
Its achievements extend beyond football, with learners achieving success in netball, including selections for international tournaments, while the school has also demonstrated excellence in basketball and chess.
Speaking at the launch, Motsepe reflected on the longstanding relationship between Mamelodi Sundowns and Clapham and the potential that exists within the school.
“When Mamelodi Sundowns looks at Clapham, we don’t just see a school for our footballers. We see a place of possibility, a place of potential,” said Motsepe.
He highlighted the role that the partnership has played in supporting young players and helping them pursue their ambitions, noting that former Clapham learners have gone on to achieve success in professional football.
Motsepe also emphasised that the new Sports School of Specialisation should create opportunities for learners beyond football, encouraging them to discover and develop their individual talents.
“The Clapham School of Sport and Specialisation is an incredible opportunity for young men and women to achieve their greatness,” said Motsepe.
MEC Maile also emphasised the importance of partnerships in strengthening specialised education.
“Government cannot develop sporting excellence alone. The partnership between Clapham and Mamelodi Sundowns is an example of how schools, professional sporting institutions and other stakeholders can work together to identify talent, provide mentorship and create high performance opportunities for young people,” said MEC Maile.
The establishment of Clapham as a Sports School of Specialisation forms part of the Gauteng Department of Education’s continued expansion of specialised education. The programme is aimed at identifying and nurturing learner talent while ensuring that academic performance remains central to the development of well rounded young people.
The inclusion of E Sports and initiatives such as “Voices On The Rise” further demonstrates the school’s innovative approach to education, exposing learners to digital skills, communication, media and emerging opportunities alongside traditional sporting disciplines.
“As Gauteng’s 40th School of Specialisation and fourth specialising in Sports, Clapham represents both a celebration of what has already been achieved and an investment in what is still possible. We want young people to know that their talent has a place in our public education system and that their journey towards excellence can begin here,” MEC Maile concluded.