Why supporting the Springboks is hard

It could be a side show

A South African Background

I watched my daughter play in a hockey tournament a few days ago. Before that, I supported her in swimming.

Daily, she’s packing her tog bag for her next activity. She’s 7

I often have tears in my eyes as I watch her compete. It’s a heaviness I can’t really explain.

Not for reasons you may think.

I am from Heideveld on the Cape Flats.

My nieces and nephews still live there. They don’t have swimming gala’s. Not even the semblance of a pool. They don’t know what an astro turf is. There’s no rugby. There’s no field. There’s no coaches.

My friends growing up, were some of the most naturally gifted sports people I ever saw.

Watching sport is painful for me.

When the Springboks play I go into a somber state. Five + years ago, I was angry. But these days I go into somewhat of a depression.

What breaks my heart the most is UNREALISED POTENTIAL. Until this day, Heideveld High School does not have a rugby program. I was there 20 years ago.

They’ve tried, but the resources sits in places where my daughter competes. This is the tale of most of the schools where the masses are.

So what does someone like me do? Do we simply focus on our own kids and make sure we get into the right spaces?

That’s what most of my blacky and browny friends do. They look after THEIRS. Perhaps it’s time to consider our nieces and nephews in the backstreets and in the flats.

And I know, you don’t want to hear this. It’s uncomfortable. It feels insurmountable.

The source of our biggest problems

The journey to becoming a chartered accountant is quite hectic. One of the checkpoints is one of two board exams called the ITC. It’s difficult, and that is an understatement.

Recently the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants released the “board 1” exam results. It was absolutely shocking and it’s been on a downward trajectory for years now.

https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/aspirant-chartered-accountants-perform-dismally-in-board-exam-20240831

The inequality in our schooling system is something we all know. We complain about it. But that’s about it. We complain.

When a few people from the Ocean View township reached out to me and said they’re building a state of the art school. They’re raised 10% of what they need but they’re going to start building anyway. I knew these were my kind of people.

Hope of the Valley are the kinds of interventions we must support because I’m tired of impoverished communities being left behind and getting the scraps.

After the school in Ocean View, I’m building another in Retreat Cape Town. The design and opportunities for our children will be incredible.

We need a new era for South Africa. Not less teachers and resources.

It’s unheard of that people from the flats are building for the flats. Who better to help lead the change than Chartered Accountants, Engineers, Teachers, Professionals from the flats?

https://www.iol.co.za/the-star/news/racial-pass-rate-gap-in-2023-apc-exams-black-candidates-fall-behind-20aaa101-0796-439a-bb27-a2c9cefd0775

When I consider the high schools our springbok players come from over the years. You will notice a trend. Others will use outlier names that have by hook and crook made it there, but if you’re honest, you know what the difference really is. The school you attend.

After we win on a Saturday we go back to inequality and mediocre education. 

Let me explain - 

You know when you go to that motivation speech or church service, leave on a high. But you wake up on a Monday and feel absolutely miserable. Back to normal you go.

Perhaps our “victories” is not hope, perhaps it’s a way to cope? Who knows.

Reminder: Book for my in-person event. Please email: info@nathanieljaphta.com if you would like to receive a promo code to get 50% off.

It’s going to be a memorable evening.

https://www.quicket.co.za/events/276664-unemployable-by-design/#/