About George Cato Primary School

George Cato Primary School was officially established on the 28th of April 1992 and was born out of the amalgamation of the two local primary schools in the area, Camperdown Primary and Cato Ridge Primary.

The School is named after George Christopher Cato, the first mayor of Durban.

George Cato was born in London in 1814 and in 1827 settled in Port Natal as a trader. He was commissioned by the Volksraad to plan the town, which was to be called D’Urban.

He was imprisoned in Pietermaritzburg the Boers during the siege of Port Natal and was later given two farms by the government namely “Doorndrug” and “Uitkomst” as compensation for the time spent in prison. The farm “Uitkomst” became known as Cato’s Ridge and later Cato Ridge.

The school badge incorporates emblems reflecting the histories of both schools. The wattle tree symbolises the establishment of the first wattle trees in the Camperdown area planted by John van der Plank, founder of Camperdown. Wattle seeds were shipped to John van der Plank from his brother in Australia.

The castle and knight’s helmet symbolise the early history of the Cato Family who originated in France. The castle represents the abode of the early nobility in France.

The school motto is Prosperitas per Unitatem, Prosperity through Unity.