Catholic Schools Office
Archdiocese of Pretoria and 
Diocese of Johannesburg

Telephone
011 985 1149  

Physical Address
2063A Zone 2
Diepkloof  

Fees
R3700 (2011 figures)
Sibling rebates

Founding & history
The Holy Cross Sisters took over the Catholic school  in Alexandra township (opened in 1919) in the 1920s, offering tuition from Grade 1 to Grade 12. Later an industrial school was added. 

In 1922 the school was registered by the provincial department of education as a government-aided mission school. In 1953 the Bantu Education Act threatened the existence of mission schools. The Catholic Church refused to surrender its schools and Government assistance was withdrawn.

When Alexandra was declared a slum in 1960, many people were removed to Diepkloof and Meadowlands in Soweto. The Holy Cross Sisters refused to accept defeat. On 21 June 1970 the building of a new school in Diepkloof among the displaced community from Alexandra started. On 4 February 1971 the new school opened with ten classrooms and ten teachers and an enrolment of 586. To comply with government policy at the time, the sisters opened three schools on the same campus: Lourdes Lower Primary, Lima Higher Primary and Immaculata High.

During the student "struggle" years the Sisters identified with the students in their protests and at the same time tried to ensure that no student was deprived of a basic education. During 1986, however, when all high schools in Soweto were closed indefinitely, the Sisters withdrew and the schools were handed over to the Bishop of Johannesburg. When schooling resumed in 1987, lay teachers were appointed.

From their beginnings in Alexandra to the present day, the Holy Cross schools in Diepkloof have built up a tradition of excellence and commitment to holistic values-based Christian education.

Motto
Ora et Labora
In prayer and work

Current enrolment
623 (2011 figures)
Boys and girls - Grade 8 to Grade 12

Subjects offered for Grade 12 (Gauteng Department of Education examination)
English, Vernacular Language, Afrikaans, isiZulu, Sesotho, Life Orientation, Business Studies, Geography, History, Biology, Mathematics, Mathematical Literacy, Physical Science, Accounting, Consumer Studies

Principal
Dr Matilda Dube

Postal Address
PO Box 1134
Mondeor
2110

Fax: 011 985 1202

E-mail: immaculata@global.co.za

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS OFFICE OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF PRETORIA AND THE ARCHDIOCESE OF JOHANNESBURG
PRETORIA w Jolivet House, 140 Visagie Street w PO Box 8149 Pretoria 0001 w Tel 012 321 2049, 012 348 3197 w Fax 012 348 8280 w E-mail  rendol@netactive.co.za
JOHANNESBURG w The Haven w St Vincent School for the Deaf w Jellicoe Avenue, Melrose w PO Box 2635 Saxonwold 2132 w Tel 011 447 9219/9211 w Fax 011 447 9129 w E-mail  info@cso.za.org