The devolution of decision-making powers from central level to the school level is currently an international trend in education reform. Together with certain structural reforms regarding shared decision-making, the South African government has also initiated programmes of curriculum reform and a general drive to improve the culture of teaching and learning in schools. This article describes the key shifts in school management since 1994 and the particular role of principals play in this reform. The article concludes with a discussion of five recent reform initiatives: The South African Schools Act, Report of the National Task Team on Education Management Development, Tirisano, Whole School Evaluation and Developmental Appraisal.