Elsies River High School is the undisputed kings of the ninth annual High School Jam that took place in the Grand Arena, GrandWest on Saturday.
The school won R50 000, sponsored by GrandWest.
The Spirit Award was won by newcomers West End Junior High, while the Most Outstanding Newcomer Award was taken by Parow High, who won R10000.
Elsies High band coach Don Vino Prins says this is third time lucky for the school.
“Elsies River High has now won High School Jam for the third time, last year they took a break from the competition.
“I’ve been coaching the band for the past six years now. Ashleigh Lubbe is the vocal coach, Marcus is the dance coach, Mr. Benjamin Sanderson who is a teacher at the school is basically the brain behind the school band, he comes up with the theme and songs.
“The songs are all cover songs and this year’s theme was Old School vs New School.”
More than 1200 teenagers from 10 schools took part, with 5 000 fans filling the venue.
Genevieve Smith, the Sustainability Manager at GrandWest, says: “GrandWest is so delighted to be involved in this fantastic initiative. The prize money will be used to further performance art at the winning school.”
In an unfortunate twist after the event, a vehicle transporting pupils home from various schools was involved in an accident.
The silver van crashed into a church on 34th Street in Elsies River after the driver apparently lost control.
A source says: “Eight of the injured were admitted to the day hospital and three of the more seriously injured are at Groote Schuur, the Elsies High learner being most critically injured.”