WeeklySA_AdminCEO: Soweto pedagogue and the Gauteng 2025 Kader Asmal Lifetime Teachers awardee surges on after four decades of leading the profession of servants and breaking chalk with no intention to quit
By Ali Mphaki
In his community he is known as the “The People’s Teacher”. Or “The People’s Principal Teacher”.
His surname Bilankulu means ‘’the one who never gives up’ in xiTsonga. His work colleagues call him CEO. Of tall built, clean shaven, an affable smile, flakes of grey hair, the CEO moniker resonates perfectly with how 64-year-old Muzamani Victor Bilankulu approaches his role as principal of the Lakeview Full Service Primary school in Fox Lake, Soweto, a position he’s occupied for the past 20 years.
The mix of titles bestowed on Bilankulu were not attained in a whim. Nor are they fluke. Nor meant to salvage his ego. Colleagues attest he leads by example, sets high standards, believes in teamwork, empower others, while not shy to source for experts when the need arises.
Not surprising therefore that last year 2025 Bilankulu bagged the coveted Kader Asmal Lifetime Teachers Award in the Gauteng district.
“You showed dedication in your work. You empowered the African child. Your contribution will ever have a lasting impact in the shaping of future leaders and a positive transformation of the community and in inspiring future teachers.
“None of us have served the department with 40 years of our time. You are an inspiration to keep on doing the excellent,” said the director of proceedings at the National Teachers Award glittering event as Bilankula was summoned to the stage to come receive his deserved trophy to a rapturous standing ovation.
Bilankulu’s epic journey into pedagogy all started in 1986 when the Ramantsha or Sinthumule, Louis Trichardt, Limpopo-born Bilankulu qualified as a teacher at the then Transvaal College for Education, now called TUT in Pretoria.
He is the first to admit that he had a cavalier attitude towards his profession when he started his teaching job. But it was not long before he reached his Damascus Road, which transformed his career into a calling – a blinding revelation that teaching was more than collecting a paycheck.
Two decades of dedicated and unbroken service were finally rewarded when he was appointed principal of newly-built mainstream school Lakeview primary in 2006, which originally had about 100 learners, six educators including Bilankulu, and one row of classrooms.
Today the school has grown to several blocks of classrooms, there is a netball court, a food garden, water tank, soccer field, and a staggering 1 315 young learners. Lakeview has also recently earned the distinction of being transformed into a full-service school, which means it caters for all children irrespective of ability and capability.
Nothing delights Bilankulu more than this milestone, which has been his dream to ensure inclusive learning reflecting the African culture of inclusivity. He bemoans the idea of so-called specialized schools, arguing that they echo apartheid times of separation, “when our culture is built on the principle that no child should be left behind’.
“Ours is about breaking down boundaries, embracing diversity and promoting unity. There’s no dunderhead,” he says with his booming voice spelling authority, an obvious trait acquired acquired in his 40 years of dedication to “the profession of servants” as the teaching profession is known.
With so many learners of ability and capability to deal with, its obvious that Bilankulu and staff have their work cut out. But what to an outsider may seem energy-sapping and emotionally-draining work, Bilankulu and colleagues seem to handle the pressures and perform their respective roles with alacrity.
Teamwork, he says, brings results. His philosophy is that leadership is not about knowing it all but surrounding yourself with people who bring out the best. The CEO, as Bilankulu is fondly known, subscribes to the notion that education is that whole system of human training within and without the school walls, which molds and develop individuals within and without the school house walls.
He further shares the view that a system of education is not one thing, nor does it have a single definite object, nor it is a mere matter of schools.
Of importance is that the school management regularly engages with the community through social meetings and SGB members, emphasizing the importance of striving for academic, sports, and cultural excellence despite learners challenging backgrounds.
“With these kinds of interaction and strong community ties and partnerships we provide opportunities that go beyond academics, nurturing confident individuals,” he says. Among the school proteges is former Banyana Banyana star Portia Modise, musician Nokwazi Ntuli, and Delisiwe Nxumalo, who is also a teacher at the school.
When relieved of his school duties, Bilankulu spends his time at the Unity Fellowship church for his spiritual needs. He used to preach as well. He is too legit to quit! After all, once a teacher always a teacher.
@This week Bilankulu added another feather in the cap when Lakeview was adopted by Old Clay Foundation under chairman businessman Keith Nkuna.
