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By: Neil Malherbe, ACSI Southern Africa Director, and David Harding

The Protea Hotel in Stellenbosch played host to a gathering of 146 educational leaders at the 2025 ACSI South Africa National Principals Conference. Nestled among vineyards adorned in autumn hues and framed by the majestic Stellenbosch mountains, the venue provided a picturesque and peaceful setting for three days marked by worship, insightful teaching, rich fellowship, and professional growth.

Each day began with worship led by the Hillsong Stellenbosch team, whose vibrancy and adoration of God created a space of authentic praise and reflection. Their ministry served as a continual reminder of the sacred calling upon each principal to honor God through their leadership in Christian education.

Daily devotions were delivered by three pastors, each of whom brought a distinct and powerful message. Adrian Quinlivan opened with a thoughtful meditation on the phrase, “Paul, an apostle,” drawing attention to the pause implied by the comma. He emphasized the importance of identity in Christ (“Paul”) before vocation (“an apostle”), encouraging leaders to pause and reflect before defining themselves by their roles.

Subsequent devotions by Ilze Hofmeyr and Zeeko Alexander built upon this foundation, urging attendees to embrace their calling with renewed faith and to view challenges as opportunities for spiritual growth and deeper leadership.

A striking theme of coherence ran throughout the conference presentations, despite no prior coordination among the speakers—evidence, many noted, of the Holy Spirit’s unifying work.

Renowned coach and sports psychologist Paddy Upton opened the keynote sessions with a compelling presentation on the power of reframing negative experiences. Drawing from his international work in high-performance sports, Upton offered practical insights into the resilience and mindset needed for transformational leadership.

On Friday morning, Professor Nicola de Jager addressed the ideological challenges facing learners as they transition into tertiary education. She offered a centering but insightful analysis of competing worldviews and equipped school leaders with strategies to help students stand firm in their biblical convictions.

Entrepreneur and founder of RecruitMyMom and RecruitMyGraduate, Phillipa Geard, followed with a forward-looking talk on preparing students for an unpredictable workforce. She emphasized the critical importance of developing adaptable skills, resilience, and a hopeful outlook for the future.Neil Hart of the Mergon Foundation concluded the afternoon sessions with a contemplative talk titled “The Leader Within.” Urging leaders to go deeper in their walk with God, Hart emphasized the importance of servant leadership modeled on the life of Christ.

The conference concluded on Saturday with a moving keynote address by Mahlatse Mashua. Speaking with sincerity and conviction, he called upon Christian educational leaders to embody a non-anxious presence amid an increasingly fragmented world. His message artfully wove together many of the themes from the previous sessions, serving as a fitting and powerful close to a deeply impactful conference.

The conference drew a strong turnout of principals from across South Africa, as well as from neighboring countries including Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Mozambique. Feedback indicated that many attendees left encouraged, inspired, and equipped to return to their schools with renewed vision and energy.

ACSI extends sincere thanks to its dedicated team, particularly Nicole Thomas, whose leadership and meticulous planning were instrumental in the success of the event.

The association now looks ahead with anticipation to the 2026 National Principals Conference, which will take place in KwaZulu-Natal.