Siya Kolisi, rose from poverty to heroically leading South Africa as the Springbok’s first black captain to win a Rugby World Cup in 2019. Rugby was an important part of the apartheid architecture set against the backdrop of South Africa’s history of racism, segregation and colonialism.
Siya is fondly remembered by his teacher as a poor boy with a wealth of talent. He came from a broken family and grew up without food to eat and without shoes on his feet. He was raised by his grandmother who was his pillar of courage, she went days without eating and sacrificed all she could for him. At the age of 9, he had to stop going to school to care for his ailing grandmother and was forced to grow up quickly given his life’s circumstances. His rise from poverty showed children who looked and lived like him that you can be what you see. He smiled through all the tough times because he recognised he stood on the heads of all that came before him and their sacrifices.
“Dream big and dream about things that people tell you that you can’t achieve. You got to use what you have around you. And once you get those dreams, once you get to the positions that you never asked for or dreamed for, stand firm and stand strong because you are chosen for a reason, you are there for a reason and you are there to inspire. You are there to tell your story, and do that as much as you can.” Siya Kolisi
He speaks passionately about the philanthropic work he does off the field being far more important and have greater impact than the games he plays on the field. During COVID-19 pandemic, he addressed the food scarcity in his country through his foundation and travelled 15,000 kms to feed over 41,000 people.
Tune in to Siya Kolisi on the Netflix series ‘Live to Lead’.
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