Rob explains how Jeppe had fallen into serious decline by the mid-2000s, with falling applications, deteriorating infrastructure, lower fee collection, weak boarding numbers, and collapsing academic performance. He then sets out how alumni, school leaders, parents, and partners helped rebuild the school through better financial management, stronger leadership, campus renewal, restored school spirit, and a clear belief that public education can be fixed.

The conversation then turns to EduSafe, a new initiative built from the lessons learned at Jeppe. Rob explains how EduSafe is now working with schools in Johannesburg such as Sandown High School, Sandringham High School, and potentially Northview High School to improve safety, restore campuses, strengthen school management, support principals, and rebuild trust between schools and their communities. (Read this from one of The Common Sense’s columnists, Benji Shulman, a Sandringham old boy, about how that school is being turned around.)

Gabriel and Rob also discuss why South Africa cannot abandon public education, why school leadership requires business and management skills as well as educational expertise, how basic infrastructure such as water, security, classrooms, desks, Wi-Fi, and functioning bells can change a school’s culture, and why successful public schools are essential to producing South Africa’s future leaders.