As a born and bred South African, my life started in the small town of De Aar (in English ‘The Vein”), so named because it was a central point for railway routes leading into the ‘hinterland’.
My father was in banking and as was current at that time, moved around considerably for promotion purposes. The result was that we grew to know different parts of South Africa, as well as how people and attitudes differed from region to region. My parents were also a South African anomaly – my father’s family were staunch Afrikaners and my mother’s parents were Scottish immigrants who were of mixed Scottish and Irish descent.
After school I studied at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (then known as the University of Port Elizabeth). I qualified as a teacher – and married one – and we both joined the ranks of those committed to working with young people. It was a rewarding but often humbling experience.
My husband and I both enjoy challenges, so we moved on to different schools, eventually also moving away from Port Elizabeth. After a spell in a rural community we moved to Cape Town, where we are now residing.
We have a holiday home at Kleinmond, a quaint sea-side town, so our time is spent between these two locations.
Tersia Havenga 