From near closure to national inspiration, Bopasenatla Secondary School in Soweto receives a future-focused technology makerspace from Regent Business School
In a corner of Soweto, where resilience often outpaces resources, a story of revival is gaining new momentum. Bopasenatla Secondary School, once on the brink of closure, is now the latest beneficiary of Regent Business School’s iLeadLAB initiative, a technology makerspace designed to expand access to practical, future-ready learning.
The ribbon-cutting on 24 February 2026 marks Regent Business School’s third iLeadLAB donation to a secondary school. The initiative forms part of a long-term commitment announced during the institution’s 25th anniversary year, pledging one iLeadLAB donation each year for a decade. Previous installations in KwaZulu-Natal and Manenberg laid the groundwork. Soweto’s Bopasenatla Secondary, however, stood out for a different reason. Its remarkable transformation is rooted in leadership.
When Regent Business School approached the Gauteng Department of Education for recommendations, five deserving schools were shortlisted. A series of visits followed. At Bopasenatla, the story behind the statistics proved compelling. Since 2021, enrolment has surged from under 200 learners to more than 1100. In 2025, the school achieved a 100 percent matric pass rate, with every learner earning a bachelor’s or diploma pass.
“For us, it was never only about infrastructure,” said Hoosen Essof, Head of Community Engagement, Innovation & Student Experience at Regent Business School. “We look for schools where leadership is changing outcomes against the odds. At Bopasenatla, we saw a principal who rebuilt a school through vision and determination. The iLeadLAB strengthens that momentum and places powerful tools in the hands of learners who might never otherwise access them.”
Valued at approximately R400,000, the iLeadLAB includes a laser cutting machine, 3D printers, virtual reality headsets, a sublimation printer and specialised furniture. Regent Business School is also providing hands-on training to equip teachers to use the technology confidently, supported by ongoing check-ins to ensure the lab continues to deliver impact. Designed as a technology makerspace, the space integrates with multiple subjects, enabling hands-on learning across disciplines. History learners might create physical artefacts to bring lessons to life, while coding and robotics learners explore practical applications that extend beyond textbooks.
Principal Radzuma Bopasen believes the timing could not be better. “This donation came when we needed it most,” he said. “We introduced computer application technology and robotics in recent years, but without advanced tools, there was a gap. This lab helps us balance the curriculum and prepare learners for a world shaped by artificial intelligence and digital skills. For our learners, many of whom have never interacted with this kind of technology, it is a blessing that will keep them relevant and confident.”
The iLeadLAB model is rooted in a simple idea: access shapes opportunity. Many township learners encounter advanced tools only when they arrive at tertiary institutions, often placing them at an immediate disadvantage. By introducing emerging technologies earlier, the programme aims to narrow that divide and strengthen university readiness.
Regent Business School says the impact extends beyond academic performance. The labs are designed as incubation spaces where curiosity can translate into entrepreneurship. Learners are encouraged to experiment, build and imagine how technology can translate into real-world ventures.
The story unfolding at Bopasenatla is one of alignment. A school that refused to fade. A principal who chose reinvention over retreat. And an institution that sees education not as a transaction, but as a catalyst for possibility.
As the doors of the iLeadLAB open, the hope is that what begins in one Soweto classroom will ripple far beyond it. For the learners stepping inside, the future may feel a little closer and far more tangible.
If you’re ready to seek success, explore Regent Business School’s Undergraduate and Postgraduate programmes, short learning programmes and workforce solutions on our website, call +27 31 304 4626 or send an email to study@regent.ac.za. Our programmes equip you to excel by surrounding you with success.
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Author: Mona-Sarah Braham Chaouch from Angelfish Pr and Events on behalf of Regent Business School.
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