Keynote Address delivered at the launch of the Thethe High   School Alumni Society on the 29^th January 2000 by the President, Mr Lebogang Raseleka.  

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.  

The night is young. The occasion egalitarian. And the company simply  elegant. This marks the event of the launch of Thethe High School Alumni Society - a forum unto which we would encourage all former matriculants of Thethe High School not only to belong to, but to participate in its undertakings and drive it to the best of ability for the common good of present and future student generations of the school.It is thus appropriate that we here and now commit ourselves toa bright future of academic excellence at our Alma Mater, as well as for the Bafokeng in general.  

We assemble here today in these humble beginnings to launch " A partnership for an academic renaissance at Thethe H. School." We thus make a call for former matriculants of Thethe to anchor this graceful institution and allow it to soar to the heights of academic excellence it has never been before.

Thethe Alumni Society was born with two objectives in mind. These are :

1. To promote the spirit of fellowship and co-operation amongst successive generations of Thethe H. School students.  

2. To devise development programmes to enhance the school's  curriculum and help prepare the current and future generations to meet the challenges of the future.

How do we achieve this ?

It only requires that few individuals stand up from their comfort zone and together with the management of Thethe help the students.We can no longer afford to confine ourselves to our privileges and let these supercede our obligations. Our indifference or the attitude to carry on regardless cannot endure any longer than the performance of our responsibilities.

A SCHOOL is defined as a place where one should learn to study and where children can be prepared to come to grips with the reality; to learn to handle it with competence and to be readied to take tomorrow's world.  

It is in this breath that we intend playing our part through organising workshops and projects that will include among others :Careers Information, Life Skills development and After-class tutorials.  

The success of this endeavour can only be realized through positive contribution and co-operation from the Management of Thethe H. School the Department of Education, students and parents, business and the Royal Bafokeng Administration.  

To harvest our varied experiences gained both during our high school and post-matriculation years, the Society is organised in Professional Chapters. Each chapter brings together fellow Alumni involved in or aspiring to follow groups of related professions. These are :Engineering, Commerce and Management, Humanities, Law,Applied Sciences, Mining, Information Technology, Medical and Arts.It fills us with pride to be associated with Thethe and we commend and are grateful to the efforts of the Principal and the teachers some of whom are present here today, because Thethe High School has produced professionals in all these fields. Today Thethe counts amongst its Alumni, medical doctors and engineers.  

When all that should be done is done, there could be no greater satisfaction to any individual that we have instilled in each student of Thethe, a good measure of confidence to face the future fully in the knowledge that a good start in the right direction is half the journey.

 In bringing all of us together, may it be of some good to our fellow Alumni who are currently unemployed and unskilled, to aspire to greater heights and develop themselves because " The efforts of government alone will never be adequate. In the final analysis, the people must make their right choices, decide on positive action and help themselves."

May I in conclusion state that this Alumni Society is not an association for the elite. It is a Society whose membership is joined together by the common bond of being a matriculant of Thethe High School. This is an association that welcomes all, those who are professionals and non-professionals to an equal membership of the Society.  

"With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead this land we love, asking for His blessing and His help, but knowing that here  on earth God's work must truly be our own."  

I Thank You.