If the Supreme Movie Maker were scouting around for a suitable location to film some of the finest fruits of His creation, Helderberg College would definitely make it onto His shortlist. Facing the towering Hottentot’s Holland mountain range which frames Somerset West, it’s a place that seems almost frozen in history.
In 1893 Helderberg was established in the Western Cape as one of 95 higher education institutions worldwide owned by the Seventh Day Adventist Church (SDA). Seventh Day Adventism is based on the writings of Ellen G White, believing that the faithful are judged by their works and that this judgment determines one’s salvation.
Over a century after its inception, Helderberg has come to symbolise diversity and dynamism. Not only is it the institution of choice for an increasing number of foreign students, but also for Southern Africa’s future movers and shakers in government, commerce and industry. Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi’s daughter is one who attends Helderberg, as do several top students sponsored by the Botswana government.
‘Last year we had three Chinese graduates,” says Helderberg’s Nhlanhla Moya. ‘Out of a student body of 370 we have 16 students from the East.”
From its inception Helderberg College not only emphasised academic tuition and religious guidance but also a respect for physical labour. This meant that in addition to their studies, students were expected to contribute to the upkeep of the extensive property by performing agricultural and maintenance duties.
This self-sufficient approach to education was predicated chiefly on the SDA belief in salvation through work. Today, although students still perform manual duties, there is a far greater emphasis on academic achievement.
The college, one of eight in Africa, is entirely funded by the SDA Church. Students can live on campus at the gender-specific residences and in accordance with SDA principles which include the prohibition of tobacco and alcohol. If some find these rules too restrictive, they can simply enrol as day students. ‘As Christians, SDAs believe in the holistic development of the individual. Although we do not discriminate against students raised on other religious or even agnostic beliefs, we encourage well-balanced students who subscribe to our view of the world and ourselves. For this reason our courses are not exclusively career-driven,” says Moya.
In addition to bachelors of arts, business administration, and a bachelor of science in psychology, Helderberg offers a comprehensive theology degree, which has attracted students from various denominations worldwide.
Although Helderberg has no plans to offer postgraduate courses, the college offers diplomas in subjects from public relations to English as a second language. The latter has proven one of the more attractive drawcards for
foreign students already encouraged by the favourable exchange rate. Many of its students are studying on bursaries or
foreign-government sponsorships, without which they could not attend. And fees compare favourably with other tertiary institutions.
‘Students from Korea, Japan, China and Taiwan, in particular, have benefited greatly from this course, and many have decided to remain on the campus afterwards to complete another diploma or degree,” says Moya.
Helderberg’s popularity has grown for other reasons too. A recent study compiled by the Human Sciences Research Council found that Helderberg was widely regarded as one of the top private colleges in the Western Cape. Personalised attention and tuition – the student to lecturer ration is 15 to 1 – was cited as one of the main reasons.