Educationist Godfrey Nakene is born

Date: 24 Jun 1908
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

Educationist and school principal, Godfrey Nakene, in whose honour Orlando High School was renamed Nakene High School, is born in Ga-Ramokgopa, Pietersburg district. Nakene became one of the first Black student to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Witwatersrand. He died in January 1983 on his farm Kameelrivier in Groblersdal district. The University of Limpopo (Turfloop campus) bestowed a Doctorate in education posthumously on him in appreciation of his immense contribution to the betterment of education in South Africa, in particular that of Black people.

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How we know this

01Verwey, E.J. (ed)(1995). New Dictionary of South African Biography, v.1 , Pretoria: HSRC.
02Nakene, G., (1995), 'Godfrey Nakene Biography', from South African History Online, [online], Available at www.sahistory.org.za [Accessed: 13 June 2014]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Educationist Godfrey Nakene is born. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011313

South African History Online (2011) 'Educationist Godfrey Nakene is born', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011313 (Accessed: 20 August 2026).

South African History Online, Educationist Godfrey Nakene is born [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011313, (accessed 20 August 2026).

"Educationist Godfrey Nakene is born." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011313. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "Educationist Godfrey Nakene is born." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011313.