After a police officer encountered homeless Siyabonga, he knew the ambitious young man had a future far brighter than the streetlights and became determined to help him get back on his feet:
Durban, South Africa (05 February 2024) — A chance encounter led Shiven Latchman, a policeman based in Durban and Siyabonga Phewa, a homeless but incredibly ambitious man, to meet during a morning patrol on the M4.
Very quickly, officer Latchman realised that Siyabonga had wonderful manners and an extreme intelligence about him. A former Sports Science student who once had a bursary but was not able to complete his studies, Siya’s story touched the policeman’s heart.
“I was born into an unstable family in all accounts,” Siya shares of how overcoming challenges began at an early age for him. Despite being entered into the government orphanage system at just 5 years old, he eventually found a home at the Malvern Child and Youth Care Centre, and soon thereafter, his life’s fire.
“Initially, I was no bright student. In grade 3 I could barely read let alone write. I remember being on the same colour coded set book while my friends progressed as planned to advanced levels of reading,” he continues.
But, ambitious Siya found his passion in sport, and relished in all parts of it.
“I ran, jumped, threw and swam all which (not bragging) I was way off the other students in school and area,” Siya comments with article clippings to back his brag.
His triumphs in sport led him to land a bursary at Pinelands Boys High School, where he would go on to sharpen his academics and play provincial soccer.
But in matric, things took what Siya calls “the inevitable turn”, as he realised becoming a professional athlete requires more than talent, but funding. Club trials were also a challenge, not least because of the pandemic halting his training, but also due to not having footage of his matches recorded.
“I didn’t have the privelege of having a person (or to even hire one) to record my games,” he furthers.
The towel hadn’t been thrown in for Siya quite yet, as he still managed to get a bursary to study Sport Science. That, however, could not be maintained.
Despite overcoming so much in his and achieving where he was told it counted, as of June 2023, Siya found himself homeless; working odd jobs to live.
Officer Latchman encouraged Siya to write about his journey, so that anyone who was in a position to help him in any way with a job or accommodation (Siya was not looking for donations, but opportunities) might come across his words.
Since Shiven came into Siya’s life and shared his story, the policeman has teamed up with another Good Samaritan, Mandy Kidson. With the two in Siya’s corner and a community rooting for the young man, wonderful things have started to unfold.
Together, Mandy and Shiven took Siya to a temporary accommodation spot and place of safety where he could safely enjoy and appreciate all the support from those touched by his story.
In a recent update, Shiven shared that Siya is already out of the shelter and has moved into a more permanent solution with a family, who he and Mandy will work with on this new, very exciting path of hope.
“There is so much happening daily. We’ve been inundated with job offers and donations. We are just letting Siya settle and get comfy,” says Shiven.
A very good thing in the making as Siya lands on his feet, and we can’t wait to see where this kindness takes him.
Check out Siya’s achievements:
This is a developing story!
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