Reviewing control and administration of Bethesda and Emmarentia Geldenhuys schools, 1935-1974

Abstract

The transplantation of the church from the West into South Africa through the work of missionary societies brought with it the establishment of schools, which were regarded by their founders as valuable instruments of evangelisation among Africans. The Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) also adopted this approach and made sure that its ventures at Bethesda Normal and Emmarentia Geldenhuys schools were a success. This became evident in the control and administration of both institutions. The intention of this article is to examine how this control and administration was maintained through the church and the state until the disestablishment of both institutions in 1964 and 1974 respectively (to the disadvantage of African communities and South Africa generally).