The school was chosen by President Nelson Mandela as the place where he would cast his vote in the first racially inclusive election in South Africa in 1994.

It was called "Ohlange" by Dube based on the word "uhlanga", which means the point of new growth in a plant or an ancestor for a descended family.

A solution to this came from an American committee that supported Dube's belief that Christian conversion could be achieved via industrial education.

A leading member of the committee was the Illinois pastor Sidney Dix Strong who had visited South Africa and had included the Ohlange Institute to his itinerary.

[4] Strong was able to arrange for the Dubes to meet Douglas and Emaroy June Smith, who became rich due to patent medicines and in time from the Pepsodent toothpaste brand.

[4] In its early years the school taught not only basic education but also vocational skills such as journalism, shoe and dressmaking, carpentry, motor mechanics and agriculture.

[7] On 27 April 1994, Nelson Mandela cast his vote in his country's first all-race elections at a polling booth in the school.

He chose Ohlange School in particular because this is where John Dube, the first president of what was to become the ANC, was buried,[9] and he wanted to lay a wreath.

[12] Prominent former pupils include the Nobel Laureate Albert Luthuli,[13] his wife Nokukhanya Bhengu,[14] and the Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, who went back to her former school in May 2006 as part of the Global Campaign for Education.

[15] Musical alumni include Reuben Caluza, the singer Busi Mhlongo and the jazz musician Victor Ntoni.