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ART
Zoe Bobelo and Mbalenhle Gwebani represented GHS in the Art Category. Throughout the festival they attended workshops and engaged in creative subjects. On day 1 they carved and printed their linocuts. Mbalenhle received the prize for best print. On day 2 the focus was 3-D and the girls made sculptures. This was followed by a visit to the Zeitz MOCAA where they experienced a world class exhibitions.
CHESS
- vs Paarl lost 1 – 3
- vs Affies won 4 – 0
- vs Westville drew 2 – 2
- vs Pretoria drew 2 – 2
- vs Pietermaritzburg won 4 – 0
DEBATING
- Round 1 : Won vs Danville with best speaker Sambese Buso
- Round 2 : Won vs Pretoria High School for Girls
- Round 3 : Won vs Paarl Girls High vith best speaker Sharon Abofra
- Round 4 : Won vs Rustenburg Girls High with best speaker Sambese Buso
- Round 5 : Won vs Parktown
The team was placed first after these preliminary rounds, being the only team to have won all five. They debated against Clarendon in a heated semi-final but unfortunately missed out on a finals opportunity.
The following individual speaker rankings were obtained:
- Sambese Buso – 6th (gold medalist)
- Sharon Abofra – 29th (silver medalist)
- Mihlali Kali – 32nd (silver medalist)
- Endinako Biyana – 35th (silver medalist)
- Diya Rajesh – 52nd
The GHS team was ranked 3rd out of 16 schools
DRAMA
Our girls continue to shine. Despite being the only school participating that does not offer drama as a subject, Ayabulela Jafta was awarded one of the top three individual prizes as Most Promising Dancer while Kamohelo Molatoli’s group was placed 3rd and Anoyolo Hayi’s group won gold.
MASTERCHEF
The Masterchef participants were treated to demonstrations by Grace Stevens, a pastry chef and Craig Cormack, The Salt Chef, as well as a demonstration from the manager of Kitchen Samurai, who have brought handmade Japanese chef knives to South Africa. All of these demonstrations took place at Silwood Cookery School.
The girls visited the Silo Hotel, a five star luxury hotel at the V&A Waterfront where they were shown around the hotel suites, viewed some of the art and were treated to a royal tea by the hotel.
They then participated in a cooking competition, using skills they have learnt thus far in their syllabus and what they had learnt from Grace’s demonstrations. On the final day they received feedback from Grace Stevens and the other judges. They also visited the schools herb garden and were given a talk on herbs, sustainability and outreach programmes.
PUBLIC SPEAKING
Lumi Willard, Senior and Tabile Mashiya, Junior represented GHS at Public Speaking. They participated in the 2 rounds of unprepared speech on the 1st day and a single round of prepared speech on the 2nd day. Neither girl made the Top 5 to compete in the final round of prepared speech, but they had the wonderful experience of competing against various schools and learning from various speakers.
CROSS-COUNTRY
The All Girls’ Festival featured a variety of workshops and activities designed to showcase the talents of young athletes. Among the events was the cross-country competition, where students from across the country competed in challenging races. Melandie van Staden, represented GHS and delivered a series of strong performances throughout the festival.
Day 1: 4km Cross-Country Race
The festival kicked off with a competitive 4km run, where athletes pushed themselves to achieve their best times. Melandie demonstrated excellent form and determination, finishing 32nd out of 60 runners. Her time of 19:13.899 was an impressive improvement on her previous personal best, showcasing her dedication to improving her skills.
Following the race, the participants had the opportunity to attend a Dietitian Workshop and a Biomechanics Lab Demo at the Sport Science Institute of South Africa. These sessions provided valuable insights into athletic performance, nutrition, and injury prevention—resources that would undoubtedly benefit Melandie and her fellow competitors.
Day 2: Another 4km Race
The second day began with another 4km race, where Melandie once again exceeded her expectations. She managed to improve her time yet again, completing the race in 17:11.945 and securing 30th place out of 61 runners. This was a significant achievement, as it not only marked another personal best but also showed her resilience and ability to perform under pressure.
In the afternoon, Melandie participated in a High Performance Assessment at the Sport Science Institute, where her physical capabilities were evaluated in a range of areas, including strength, endurance, and biomechanics. This assessment was an essential component of the festival, providing athletes with feedback on their strengths and areas for further development.
Day 3: Beach Run and Scenic Views
The third day of the festival offered a change of pace, with participants enjoying an easy run along Sunset Beach, located just outside Cape Town. The run featured stunning views of Table Mountain and provided a relaxing yet scenic backdrop for the athletes to reflect on their achievements.
The beach run was not only a chance for participants to enjoy nature but also served as an opportunity to recover and reflect on the competitive events of the previous days.
Overall, Melandie van Staden’s performance at the National All Girls’ Festival was exceptional. She demonstrated both physical endurance and mental determination. Beyond her success in the races, Melandie took full advantage of the festival’s educational opportunities, which will aid in her future athletic development.
Her achievements were a source of pride for both herself and GHS, and her performances were a testament to the hard work and dedication she has put into her athletic pursuits.
HOCKEY
- vs St Micheal’s won 1 – 0
- vs Rhenish lost 0 – 4
- vs Affies lost 0 – 4
- vs Danville lost 0 – 2
- vs Clarendon drew 0 – 0
- vs Westville won 2 – 0
- vs Durban won 2 – 0
- vs Pretoria lost 0 – 1
NETBALL
The 1st Netball squad showcased their skills, learned from others, and bonded as a team. They faced tough competition, but determination and teamwork paid off, yielding victories. The experience taught us valuable lessons about teamwork, discipline, and perseverance, making us stronger and more united.
- vs Durban lost 24 – 26
- vs Potch won 40 – 14
- vs Westville won 24 – 15
- vs Rhenish lost 23 – 42
- vs Bloemhof lost 14 – 36
- vs Oranje lost 17 – 30
- vs WGHS won 32 – 18
- vs Parktown won 23 – 20
- vs La Rochelle lost 26 – 30
- vs Rustenburg won 27 – 23
Placed 2th overall
SQUASH
- vs Danville won 16 – 0
- vs Paarl won 16 – 2
- vs Eunice lost 4 – 16
- vs Collegiate won 11 – 6
Placed 4th overall
TENNIS
The All Girls Festival 2025 saw GHS participate in a highly competitive tennis tournament. The event brought together some of the country’s top girls’ schools, showcasing impressive talent and sportsmanship throughout.
Day 1 – Round Robin Matches
GHS faced a challenging lineup on the first day of the tournament. The team opened against Clarendon High School and, despite a strong effort, lost the fixture 18–0. The next match against La Rochelle also ended in a 18–0 defeat, followed by another tough game against Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool (Affies), which concluded with the same 18–0 scoreline. Though the results were not in GHS’s favour, the team displayed resilience and determination throughout the day.
Day 2 – Play-Offs
On the second day, GHS met Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High in the play-off round. The match was more competitive, with GHS managing to earn 6 points, but ultimately falling short with a 6–12 loss. The team showed improved play and tenacity as they adapted to the high level of competition.
Day 3 – Final Position Play-Offs
In the final placement match, GHS went up against Danville Girls’ High. It was a close and hard-fought contest, with GHS narrowly losing 5–10. The team’s effort and spirit were evident, closing the tournament on a commendable note.
Final Standing
Placed 14th overall
