- Northwood School's Dr Shaw made a bold promise to 300 boys ahead of the Real Life Knights Cancer Drive
- Head Prefect Nala Shabangu joined Dr Shaw in shaving his head at Monday's assembly in a show of solidarity
- The moment was filmed on the school sports field and moved South Africans across the country
Source: Facebook
A Durban school principal kept his word in the most memorable way possible. Dr Shaw of Northwood School in Durban North shaved his head bald at Monday's assembly on 19 October 2026, honouring a promise he made to his students during the school's annual Real Life Knights Cancer Drive.
The deal was simple: if 300 boys from the school's Squires and Knights programme stepped up to buzz their hair for Friday's cancer awareness drive, Dr Shaw would shave his head at the following assembly. The boys met the challenge, and so did he.
A promise kept on the sports field
Footage of the moment, posted to the Northwood School Facebook page on 19 October 2026, shows Dr Shaw seated on the school sports field with a crowd of uniformed students packed into the stands around him. Head Prefect Nala Shabangu picked up the clippers and did the honours himself, shaving the principal's head completely bald while students clapped and cheered.
Nala also got his own head shaved as part of the occasion, doubling down on the gesture of solidarity.
The school described it as "a brilliant moment of school spirit, leadership and solidarity, all in support of a cause that matters," signing off with their motto-inspired message: "Real Men. Real Knights. Real Impact."
See the moment below:
Mzansi moved by the school's cancer drive spirit
The video on the Facebook page resonated far beyond the school gates. South Africans praised Dr Shaw for leading by example and honouring his commitment to the boys.
@Rayne Dancaster commented:
"Great support for cancer. Well done to all the boys and Mr Shaw."
@Karen Torgius shared:
"Very touching and honourable gesture from everyone involved at Northwood."
@Nonhlanhla Dube said:
"I salute you Dr Shaw and Mr Nala."
@Wendy Cornell wrote:
"Well done Northwood, what a brilliant initiative, and one of togetherness!"
More on health stories
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- A former rugby player died during a fundraiser for a teammate battling a brain tumour, prompting tributes from two clubs.
- An international study found that air pollution in Joburg and Pretoria exceeds safety guidelines on more than half of days each year.
Source: Briefly News
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