logo
'Extravagant': Is THIS what caused Hilton College controversy?

'Extravagant': Is THIS what caused Hilton College controversy?

Images of the 'extravagance' shown by parents of learners – as criticised by the principal of Hilton College – has gone viral on Facebook.
The pics stem from a recent rugby derby day between the school and its rival, Michaelhouse.
Both learning institutions are ranked as the top two most expensive private schools in South Africa.
On Facebook, catering company Capitol Caterers shared a look at their five-star display for Hilton College parents at the derby day against Michaelhouse.
The lavish display featured beautifully decorated cakes and snacks, including biltong, salmon, fruit, nuts, and fresh fruit.
The company bragged about its 'delicious spread,' praising the school for its 'big weekend of school spirit, sportsmanship, and great food!' .
A big weekend of school spirit, sportsmanship, and great food! We were proud to be part of the action as the catering… Posted by Capitol Caterers on Wednesday 25 June 2025
In another pic that went viral on social media, an X user shared a look at parents who attended the rugby derby.
On one side were parents of colour who sat on camp chairs, whilst on the other side were white parents who enjoyed catering services and shaded gazebos.
'Watching Hilton College vs MichaelHouse, schools' rugby. Hhay' no, as a black community, we are generations behind', posted @prophilani.
In an open letter following their rugby derby day, Hilton College principal George Harris scolded parents of the school for their 'extravagant' display of hosting and catering.
He also criticised the parents for not cleaning up after the events.
He wrote: 'When hospitality and generosity became self-serving displays of opulence, and began to pull away from what we aspire to be as a community. The principal of Hilton College has urged parents of learners to not be 'extravagant'. Images via Facebook: Hilton College
The principal added: 'Next year, can we ditch the opulence in favour of a wholesome hospitality devoid of showmanship and loud extravagance?.
'When the extravagance stretches into overconsumption, the message we send to our children is wrong'.
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 .
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

NSPCA takes aim at Durban July and cruelty in SA's horse racing industry
NSPCA takes aim at Durban July and cruelty in SA's horse racing industry

Daily Maverick

time4 hours ago

  • Daily Maverick

NSPCA takes aim at Durban July and cruelty in SA's horse racing industry

A new campaign to clean up South Africa's horse racing industry started with a fashion statement that shocked glamorous guests at the country's premier horse race. The Durban July held last weekend was South Africa's most glamorous day of racing — a swirl of high fashion, Champagne flutes and big bets. Amid the spectacle, actress and activist Nirvana Nokwe stepped on to the red carpet dressed not to dazzle, but to disturb. Draped in an unsettling art piece paying tribute to racehorses abandoned and broken when they're no longer profitable, Nokwe's striking look was a wake-up call: the 'sport of kings' is built on suffering. Her bold statement launched the National Council of SPCAs' (NSPCA's) Rein in the Pain campaign — a challenge to the Durban July's glossy image and a call for South Africans to confront the cruelty that lurks behind the roar of the crowd. 'This isn't just about what happens on race day,' said Nokwe. 'It's about what we don't see — the tongue-ties, the brutal whipping, the strained tendons, the fractured legs, the bleeding lungs. Fashion can make a statement, and this one says: It's time to change.' The dark truth According to the NSPCA, behind the turf tracks, mint juleps and TV cameras is a brutal system. Thoroughbreds — the sleek, high-speed horses synonymous with the Durban July — are bred for explosive performance. They can hit 60km/h in just a few strides, but that speed often comes at the cost of broken bones, strained ligaments and shortened lives. Many horses begin racing before their skeletons are fully developed, leaving them prone to injuries that force early retirement, or worse. 'These magnificent animals are being silenced by a system that too often places profit above their welfare,' said Jacques Peacock, NSPCA communications manager. 'Tradition can't excuse cruelty.' Every year, the South African racing industry registers around 2,000 new thoroughbred foals, adding to a population of about 30,000. Only a fraction of these will ever make it to the big racecourses. Many of those that do will be cast aside when they stop winning — and their new lives are often far from the manicured paddocks they once knew. The 'lost horses' While some racehorses have second careers in showjumping or leisure riding, a disturbing number simply vanish. A Daily Maverick investigation into the thoroughbred world revealed that thousands slip into a welfare black hole when they no longer earn. Some end up in slaughterhouses, their meat sold for lion parks or game reserves. Many more fall into the unregulated world of 'bush racing', where abandoned racehorses are flogged to race for small stakes or illegal bets on potholed dirt roads and tarred township streets. In these informal races, dubbed 'community racing', the cruelty can be staggering. Saddles are often ill-fitted or non-existent, bits are replaced with wire that tears mouths, and exhausted horses collapse from injuries or overwork. When the NSPCA inspected an Eastern Cape race, they found more than 100 ex-thoroughbreds, many with injuries so severe they had to be euthanised on the spot. 'They used to be pampered, treated better than most humans,' said an NSPCA inspector. 'Now they're tossed away like old shoes at a jumble sale.' Racing's shaky foundations While informal bush racing booms, formal thoroughbred racing in SA is on the decline. Since 1990, the number of horses starting races has dropped by nearly a third. In 2022, when we did the investigation, half of the country's racecourses had shut down, and the number of breeders and stud farms had plummeted by more than 80%. Once a lucrative spectacle, thoroughbred racing now survives largely thanks to betting houses and bookies, who rake in billions while owners struggle to cover the spiralling costs of raising and training a winning horse. 'You have to be wealthy to own racehorses, but you're not likely to get wealthy racing them,' said an owner. 'You're lucky if a win covers a few months' stabling costs.' Yet the real losers aren't the owners — they're the horses. The NSPCA argues that the racing industry's obsession with breeding and speed is producing more animals than it can or will care for. And once these horses leave the formal tracks, the National Horseracing Authority (NHRA) admits it has almost no power to track what happens to them next. Bush racing pipeline From the plush paddocks of the Durban July to the dusty roads of rural racing, a hidden pipeline funnels discarded thoroughbreds straight into a world of unchecked suffering. Some are sold or simply given away when they can't win any more. Others are bought up by owners who lack the knowledge — or the resources — to care for such high-maintenance animals. 'The big problem is thoroughbreds,' says Stanley Adam of the Eastern Cape Horse Care Unit. 'They're like Ferraris — you can't take a Ferrari and drive it down a gravel road and expect it to blossom.' Traditional racing is deeply woven into rural life. For some, it's a point of pride, a cultural celebration. But the lack of regulation can leave horses exposed to horrific injuries, doping, malnutrition and abuse. And unlike formal races, there are rarely vets on site and no accountability. However, the NSPCA's Farm Animal Protection Unit tries to inspect every informal or community race that takes place in SA. 'We rely on donations and used to do inspections as far up as Kuruman,' said Theresa Hodgkinson of the Highveld Horse Care Unit. 'But funding dried up. Now we see more thoroughbreds sold into informal racing — and many are in terrible condition.' A roadmap for change The NSPCA's Rein in the Pain campaign isn't just about raising awareness — it's about fixing a system that, in the organisation's view, is built to fail the animals at its heart. It has drafted clear, practical amendments to the NHRA's rules, setting a minimum standard for change. Key demands include: Banning performance-enhancing drugs and masking agents used to push injured horses through races; Phasing out harmful equipment like tongue ties by the end of this year; Completely banning whips by 2029 — with strict limits and schooling for jockeys in the interim; Ensuring that horses are microchipped by six months old and properly tracked from birth to retirement and beyond; Prohibiting racing horses under three years old to prevent premature skeletal damage; and Enforcing lifetime care and accountability, with criminal charges and lifetime bans for repeat offenders. 'These reforms are the bare minimum,' said Peacock. 'They're not exhaustive, but they're a start. This is about public trust — people need to see the industry take real responsibility for the animals that make it possible.' For the NSPCA, the real test will be whether ordinary South Africans demand this change. It's calling on the public to sign its petition at and to hold racing's big players accountable for the animals behind the betting slips and fancy hats. 'Our goal is simple,' says Peacock. 'We want the industry to stop pretending that window-dressing measures and paltry fines are enough. It's time for meaningful change — and it starts with every one of us saying, 'Enough is enough.'' DM

Viral TikTok video shows SA dad waiting outside groove for his daughters
Viral TikTok video shows SA dad waiting outside groove for his daughters

The South African

time10 hours ago

  • The South African

Viral TikTok video shows SA dad waiting outside groove for his daughters

Viral videos never seem to dry up on the World Wide Web. Isn't it wild how there's always something bizarre or hilarious making the rounds? From people surfing shopping trolleys on highways to cringeworthy challenge fails, the Internet never stops surprising us. The latest viral sensation has grabbed the attention of millions, racking up likes and shares all over social media. Today's Eish Wena segment features a South African dad standing guard outside a groove, patiently waiting for his daughters to finish their night out. Watch the video below @zodwankwanyana0 ♬ original sound – Random lyrics🐆 Need your news quickly? Visit The South African website for all you need to know. Enjoy a wide variety of videos from news, lifestyle, travel, sports, viral videos and lots more! There is always something to watch here! Why not follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok while you're at it? Get ALL the news you need to know on the go at your convenience! Submit your videos for a chance to be featured in the daily Viral Video article and get your name mentioned. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.

'There's something about him': Kaizer Chiefs midfielder spotted with a new look
'There's something about him': Kaizer Chiefs midfielder spotted with a new look

The South African

time13 hours ago

  • The South African

'There's something about him': Kaizer Chiefs midfielder spotted with a new look

Kaizer Chiefs midfielder was seen sporting a new hairstyle during pre-season training in the Netherlands. The 26-year-old was photographed with blonde hair during one of the training sessions. He appeared focused, which impressed many Amakhosi fans, who quickly took to social media to praise the Bafana Bafana star. Cele joined Chiefs in January and quickly earned himself a place in the team, where he played 11 league matches. Amakhosi announced the signing of Siphesihle Ndlove, with Yusuf Maart and Edson Castillo gone. He could play alongside Thabo Cele if Nabi goes for a defensive approach, especially against teams like Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns. With Cele settled, Kaizer Chiefs fans took to X (Twitter) to praise their top midfielder. @bongssafitclub wrote: 'Winning attitude, the face said siyabanquma 2025/2026 season is ours.' @PulseOnX wrote: 'He looks super focused, we are up for a treat this coming season for sure.' 'Thabo Cele is the only player I would really consider writing their surname on my new Kappa thing, I haven't admired a Chiefs like this in a very long time, Infact the last player I admired like this was Doctor Khumalo,' @Ta_Fitty tweeted. 'I am with you on this one. The previous players were admirable but there is something about Thabo Cele's attitude and determination. He is that guy,' @u_bhekani tweeted. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store