Dale College headmaster opens up about tragic pupil deaths

This past weekend, another tragedy on the school sports scene came to light when it was confirmed that first XV rugby star Liyabona ‘Sturge’ Teyise had passed away after a collision during a derby match against Port Rex Technical High School.

The sad news came to light on Sunday, and just days after the search for fellow Dale College pupil and promising young sportsman Lisakhanya Lwana ended in tragedy, with his family having identified his body at Bhisho Hospital on Tuesday.

Another talented sports star, Teyise was said to have lost consciousness briefly, before walking off the field himself, but he then tragically collapsed and had to be rushed to hospital. There was later confirmed to be bleeding on the brain, and the youngster tragically passed away overnight.

“The collision was very innocent in how it was. As rugby collisions go, it wasn’t a big impact collision. I think it was a freak accident,” Dale College headmaster Garth Shaw told Daily Maverick.

“It was a backline move running. The Port Rex defence on the retreat and Liyabona burst through between two tacklers and managed to pass the ball while in the tackle… a cross cover defender was coming across and there must have been a knee or a boot by accident to the side of his head. That’s how this kind of an accident and the bleeding on the brain must have happened.”

Shaw said the medics on the side of the field were very well drilled, but said there was an important lesson to be taken from the tragedy.

“There was a shortage of ambulances. I think there’s something to be learned out of this. One thing that is apparent is that we should not have four derby days happening in East London at the same time,” said Shaw.

The headmaster added that the school was dealing with the two tragedies as best they could.

“We have a memorial service planned for Lisakhanya’s passing and that was planned since last week. We wondered if we should postpone that with the rawness of Liyabona’s passing but we’re going to continue with that and then probably later this week we’ll have a similar memorial service for Liyabona,” said Shaw.

“It’s been really raw and challenging to deal with and a lot of emotions are coming out. [Monday] we’ll have various groups of counselling support and our school counsellor will meet with all those who are volunteering at 8am and then we’ll have counselling sessions for various groups in small groups… We just feel that that is necessary just to process everything that’s going on. So that’s how we’re responding to it in terms of the learners.”

Dale College posted the following statements:

There were already emotional scenes at Dale College last Wednesday as pupils paid tribute to young Lisakhanya Lwana who was tragically found dead.

According to Dispatch Live, it’s said that the 17-year-old had last been seen alive last weekend, with the talented young rugby and cricket player having been reported missing after he was left at a hiking spot. The report further states that it’s suspected he may have been the victim of a hit-and-run accident.

“Lisakhanya envisioned himself pursuing sports management at varsity, he was going to take the sports route since he was brilliant at it,” his heartbroken father Daluxolo Lwana said.

“He was a visionary and played for the first team in both cricket and rugby. Lisakhanya always evnisioned himself representing the country in both codes. My son imagined he would wear South African colours for sports, that was his dream.”

Dale College expressed their condolences, and described the teenager as a “skilled sportsman” with a “fantastic sense of humour”.

Across social media, tributes poured in from far and wide for the gifted young men.

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