“What a Wonderful Person”: Kingsmead College Mourns the Passing of Beloved Former Teacher, SA Moved

“What a Wonderful Person”: Kingsmead College Mourns the Passing of Beloved Former Teacher, SA Moved

  • Kingsmead College announced the passing of beloved former Afrikaans teacher Narelle Potgieter, who passed away on 06 October 2026
  • Narelle served the school from 2006 to 2017 and continued as a locum teacher up until 2025
  • Former colleagues, learners, and community members flooded social media with tributes to her warmth, humour, and feisty spirit
Tributes poured in from former students and colleagues remembering her impact
A Johannesburg school has announced the sad passing of a former Afrikaans teacher, Narelle Potgieter. Image: Kingsmead College
Source: Facebook

Kingsmead College has announced the passing of beloved former Afrikaans teacher and LEAD educator Narelle Potgieter. Narelle, who taught in the Senior Primary section from 2006 to her retirement in 2017, died on 06 October 2026 at the age of 73. The school shared the sad news in a heartfelt tribute on its Facebook page on 8 October 2026, remembering her as a cherished figure who remained closely connected to the community as a locum teacher right through to 2025.

Kingsmead College pays tribute to Narelle Potgieter

In its post, the school described Narelle as a spirited, feisty, and down-to-earth educator who brought immense joy and laughter to those around her. She was known for combining a no-nonsense teaching approach with genuine warmth, quick wit, and a strong personal connection to her students and colleagues. In addition to her teaching duties, she regularly participated in school events such as the Book Fair and Goodwill Day. The school extended its deepest condolences to her children, grandchildren, and extended family.

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See the school's tribute in the Facebook post below:

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Mzansi pays tribute to the beloved educator

Members of the school community, former colleagues, and well-wishers shared their grief and fond memories in the comments section:

Kim Lowman commented:

"This is such devastating news. Narelle will certainly be remembered and cherished for all she shared with the Kingsmead community. My prayers are with all those who loved her dearly 💚."

Sharekha Banwa wrote:

"Sending condolences to her family, and may her soul rest in peace🕯️🙏💔🥺. She was very loved by the Kingsmead community 🙏."

Lorna Rait added:

"What a beautiful post, Kingsmead, for a most kind, sincere and special lady."

Bridgit Miller shared:

"A beautiful human being, so laid back, with the most incredible sense of humour! Narelle will be sorely missed! Much love and prayers for her family at this sad time 🙏❤️."

Sue Brereton-Scott posted:

"A great teacher with a fun and feisty personality. She was fabulous! RIP."

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Tannagh Alice Conyngham recalled:

"So sad to read this. Had the privilege of working with Narelle at Redhill. What a wonderful person."

Other death-related articles

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  • A bee swarm disrupted a funeral service in South Africa after attacking mourners, leading online users to joke that the deceased was laughing at the chaotic scene.
  • A spiritual medium shared insights on social media after allegedly channelling spirits linked to high-profile Ekurhuleni murder cases.

Source: Briefly News

Authors:
Bongiwe Mati avatar

Bongiwe Mati (Human Interest Editor) Bongiwe Mati is a Human Interest reporter at Briefly News, focusing on social commentary, community stories, viral human-interest features, and public discourse. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree from the University of the Western Cape. Bongiwe began her editorial career in campus media before contributing across print and digital platforms at BONA Magazine, where she covered current news and societal trends. She specialises in reporting on local community accounts, social media discourse, and viral South African events. Contact: bongiwe.mati@briefly.co.za

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