Interview with Tyson Sithole 2007 Tyson came to St David’s from Norwood Primary School into grade 8 in 2003. This followed a visit to Norwood Primary by Mr Edey and Mr Williams when they were showcasing St David’s and Tyson had a brief interaction with them. Tyson was subsequently awarded an academic bursary which enabled him to attend St David’s. Tyson recalls his first day as being so very different to his former co-ed school, with 100 boys in grade 8 and found the first month quite nerve wracking. However once he started making friends he settled in and refers to it as a life changing experience. Tyson never felt discriminated against and today many of his friends are former St David’s pupils. He concentrated on his academics and consistently made it into the top ten academics for five years. His family unfortunately didn’t get involved during his time at St David’s, however, his mom and Dad were very supportive of his academic endeavours. He participated in some sport just for the fun of it but his main focus was on maintaining a high academic performance. He was involved with SMILE on Wednesdays for four years which he thoroughly enjoyed and found it to be good fun and very rewarding and his way of giving back. He played chess for five years, and helped out in the library as a media assistant. Together with Mrs Voorendyk he made visits to an orphanage in Yeoville and in his matric year was involved in the school spirit as a cheerleader. Tyson suffers from an eye disorder known as Keratoconus, which was first picked up during his time at St David’s The highlights of his school career were receiving honours in 2007 for academics and general: academics, leadership and service, being elected as a prefect and when St David’s rugby team beat St Stithians on Champagnat day. Graham Gallow was the first team captain. In his grade 8 year, he recalls that the 1st rugby team beat both Kes and Jeppe which was awesome for such a small school as St David’s was then. Tyson was also deputy head prefect of College house. Tyson was initially resistant to some of the school’s traditions especially when he accidentally put a foot on the matric grass! There was an element of bullying but the school is being more proactive in that regard. Teachers that had a huge influence on him especially in the way that the message was delivered were Mrs Russell, Mr Fry, Mrs Pillay, Mrs King, and Mr Van Den Berg who was his housemaster. Mrs Marais, Mrs Egenrieder and Mrs Voorendyk were members of staff he could talk to and relate to on a more personal level. Tyson believes that the overall perception of the high school has changed. The other week he attended a rugby match and met up with several of his former colleagues, testament to the current spirit of many of the old boys. Tyson said that the five years he spent at St David’s were life changing, developing a mindset which helped prepare him for his university career, he was awarded a scholarship at UCT where he studied Bachelor of Business Science, graduating with Honours in Finance. He is currently employed by Standard Bank in the investment banking division at their headquarters in Rosebank. Tyson also said that if he ever has a son he would not hesitate to enrol him at St David’s and said that many of his colleagues would really like to send their sons too. Tyson is a member of Marist old boys (MOBS) and also a member of the Temba Bavuma Foundation which focuses on changing cricket development in South Africa and assisting boys with talent. Tyson is currently a trustee of the St David’s Foundation and would like to make a meaningful contribution to his Alma Mater. JLE March 2018
Interview with Temba Bavuma – 2007 Temba moved from Cape Town to Johannesburg with his parents in 2003 and first went to Fourways High School joining St David’s in grade 10 when he was awarded a sports scholarship to play cricket. He was spotted by Shane Gaffney and Roger Budd at a regional U15 cricket week. At first he found the school rather intimidating and didn’t know quite what to expect as a co-ed school is run somewhat differently. He made friends easily especially with his sporting background being involved with rugby, soccer, cricket and cross-country. Temba was awarded colours for soccer and cricket but didn’t play in an open year. He played for the A or 1st team in all the sports in which he participated and at one time soccer was his first love before cricket. He struggled in the first few years but represented Gauteng U19 cricket. Initially he was going to study at UCT having gained 3 distinctions in matric but he stayed on at St David’s and completed a post-matric year which qualified him to play for SA Schools. It was a very tough year having to come back to school in uniform and repeating matric subjects again. However, it did make him mentally stronger as an individual and from a cricketing point of view. Temba enjoyed the brotherhood at the school with a tight relationship amongst the guys especially in rugby and cricket. Temba did struggle with all the discipline and school regulations and those parameters but, with hindsight he now appreciates it. He found all the teachers to be different and he could relate to them. Mr Ireland didn’t show much emotion presenting a tough facade but Temba enjoyed him. Mrs Deetlefs had a vibrant nature and always engaged with the students and Ms Cambitzis tried to break the student, teacher barrier. Temba feels he owes a lot to Shane Gaffney who gave him the opportunity to succeed and contributed greatly to enable Temba to get to where he finds himself now. Shane was very strict but tried to get the best out of him and the other boys.Temba also had a good relationship with Amarinda Binder who helped him a lot. One unfortunate incident which stands took place during his grade 11 year when Sello M........... lost his soccer boots and assumed that Temba had them. Sello took Temba’s school and cricket bag in revenge which meant that Temba couldn’t do his homework or attend cricket training. This was a disaster for Temba. Temba went on school tours to Maritzburg and was involved in the St Albans tournament for cricket and with soccer went to Kloof High and Durban, and played rugby in Bloemfontein at Gray’s College and St Peter’s.Temba remembers that before his matric dance he was playing cricket all day and wondered if he would ever make it. The friendships he made at school he will always cherish and he remembers in particular Sabelo Sithebe, head boy whom everyone respected, he was inspiring. Temba matriculated in 2007 and 2008 with Accounting, Biology, Zulu, English, Business Economics and Mathematics. He admits that his focus was not on marks but on cricket and was fortunate to play SA Schools and for the SA U19 team, memories which he will cherish forever. Temba appreciated the support he was given by being at St David’s, the way the school was run with its systems and structure which enabled him to become the person he is today. It shaped him and encouraged him. The values and principles the school instilled in him whilst he was there. The biggest thing wasn’t about academics but how to be a man amongst other men. Comfortare Esto Vir: Take courage and be a man. In 2009 Temba enrolled at University of Johannesburg to study for BComm Finance. He finished the first year but dropped out in the second due to his cricket commitments, enrolled at Unisa and finished his degree in June 2014. He found it difficult to study and play sport. It was hard to find the energy after a tough days training to apply himself to his studies. At the moment he is focused on his cricketing career and a coaching facility at St David’s which he hopes will start at the end of March. He will be touring India and Bangladesh during the winter. Temba is now receiving information from MOBS and hopes to get more involved in future. JLE February 2015
