Two Eastern Cape schools have announced key leadership appointments, with East London’s Cambridge High School naming long-serving teacher Jonathan Buitendag as its new deputy principal, and the Diocesan School for Girls (DSG) in Makhanda appointing Dr Sally James as new head of school from January 2026. Buitendag’s appointment follows the retirement of former Cambridge deputy principal Lizelle Prinsloo at the end of 2025, while James returns to DSG more than two decades after beginning her teaching career at the school. Buitendag, whose father, Grassey, served as headmaster of Cambridge High from 1980 until his retirement in 2016, officially assumed the role on October 1 2025 after more than two decades of service at the institution.
“I officially started on October 1 last year, because the process took a bit longer than expected, but it gave me about three months to ease into the role,” he said. Buitendag joined Cambridge High in 2003 and has spent his entire professional career at the school. He said his path into education was not planned, but developed through his involvement in sport and music.
“I studied violin, played drums and guitar,” he said. Though teaching is now his primary focus, he said music remained an important part of his life. “I was also involved in sports like cricket and hockey, and through coaching and practical music teaching while I was studying, I became part of the school environment,” he said.
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I was also involved in sports like cricket and hockey, and through coaching and practical music teaching while I was studying, I became part of the school environment Buitendag initially intended to pursue a career in commerce. He completed a B.Com degree at Rhodes University in 2004, before going on to obtain a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE) through the University of South Africa (Unisa) in the same year.
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