Black & white photo

Interview with Batana Vundla -1996
Batana was a pupil at St David’s from grade 0 to matric and recalls there being at least 3 or 4
black pupils in his year during that time.
Mrs Walton was his grade 0 teacher and he remembers his first day, crying because his uniform
was uncomfortable but by the end of the day he didn’t want to go home.
Mr Royce had a big impact on him in the prep school, and had a steady hand. In the high school
there was Mr Brownlee,(who he understands helped him become a prefect in matric), Mrs
Marais, Mr Edey who enjoyed teaching and was always fair, inspiring but strong.
He has known Mike von Guilleaume since grade 0 and his was the first white person’s home
that he visited. At the time in the 80’s he somehow thought that white people had green blood.
So you can imagine he was a bit nervous sleeping over at his house. Other boys he remembers
are Murray White, the Chandler, Contardo and Fiaschanaro, families. There was a good school
spirit, Sifiso Ngwenya was St David’s first black head boy, the school was ahead of all the other
private schools in this regard. He was grateful for all the support he received and to get such a
good education at St David’s.
He was fortunate as his parents did well and his mother ran the family business. Although he
sometimes had to travel to school in civies (At the time attending school in white areas was
taboo) he always travelled in a private car which helped in getting around. His mother
developed cancer whilst he was in standard 7 and was ill until he matriculated. It was a very
stressful time for him and he didn’t handle it too well.
On the sporting front he played B team soccer, athletics, and cricket in the prep and then A
team rugby in the high school until matric as a wing. In 1995, year of the World Cup the rugby
side was the best St David’s ever had. Mike von Gulleaume was head boy and Johnathan
Kyriakakis, 1st rugby team captain. It was the year of the first overseas tour in which the team
won all of their games and they used to sing Sho Sholoza coming off the pitch. In the opening
game Batana scorred the winning try. He also remembers the game against Bryanston High,
the same day of the Rugby World Cup final, the stands were full, they played really well and St
David’s won. They felt that the Boks would win because they had. In this year Batana was
chosen for Transvaal U18 development team.
He was involved with plays for College house and had mainly bit parts but no major roles. He
was involved with debating and recalls Mrs Henderson who started a campaign asking for
peace in SA, she also taught Geography.
Batana never achieved academically, he admits to being a lazy student who underperformed.
He was relieved on his last day to be finishing school but was nervous and counting the days to
the results. He looked forward to going into the real world. He passed his matric and went to
Wits then onto UCT where he studied Drama.
Batana is currently a film producer working on a production dealing with the protection of
information and corruption in the ruling party. He is also involved in the film industry assisting
youngsters to get into the industry. He has also been on the MOBS committee for the past two
years and would like to send any sons, which he may father, to St David’s.
JE December 2011

Interview: Gareth Shippen (1992 – 1996)
Gareth attended St David’s from grade 8 until matric and says he enjoyed his time at school. He enjoyed sport
and played cricket and hockey where he played for the 1st XI. He enjoyed the tours in sport especially the tour
to Zimbabwe with Mr McMillan and Fr Brewer – a great time was had by all!
Gareth was not the greatest scholar (his own words) but he liked the teachers. He was not good at Maths and
the school suggested that he move down to standard grade but with the help of Mr Nick Davies he managed to
write Maths on the higher grade and get a good result. He enjoyed Richard Girdwood’s English lessons, the
boys used to sidetrack the lesson and most times Mr Girdwood fell for it! He remembers Mr Lambe, Mrs
Marais, Mr Norton and of course Mr McMillan and Fr Brewer fondly as good teachers and mentors.
Sadly Gareth’s Dad passed away on the day he was meant to write his matric Biology paper. Gareth wasn’t
sure what he wanted to do, so his Mom suggested that he try the hotel industry. After attending Wits
Technikon his first posting was to the Protea Hotel Kruger Park where he spent two years before moving to the
Protea Hotel Wilderness.
Gareth now manages The Gannet restaurant in Mossel Bay which is attached to the Protea Hotel. He is
happily married and his wife helps him in the business and he has now started an events business to run in
conjunction with the restaurant. Although the hours are long, Gareth enjoys the creative side of his work and
has lived in Mossel Bay for the past six years.
Gareth has seen Mark Conyers, who manages an upmarket guest house in Knysna recently but otherwise he
reads the old boy’s mail etc to keep up to date with St David’s.
Gareth’s brother Mark, matric 2001, moved to Australia recently and is working in the computer industry.