When Dr Teresa David came to Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 (SU) in 2015, she could say only one phrase in English: “Good morning." Born and raised in Angola where Portuguese is the official language, David had never studied in anything other than her native tongue.
While communication initially proved to be a big challenge at SU, she committed herself to become fluent in English in record time. Through sheer determination and the support of unexpected mentors, she became the first in her family to graduate. She's also the first Angolan woman to obtain a PhD in New Testament studies.
Born in Huambo in central Angola, David is the fifth sibling in a family of eight brothers and sisters who grew up deeply involved in the Evangelical Pentecostal Church. She followed in the pastoral footsteps of her father, Nascimento David, by deciding to study theology.
“My father is my rock. He has always been my greatest role model and supporter," David says. “He said he wanted me to have a good education so that I could build a career and take care of myself. Although he would have preferred if I studied law, he never discouraged me."
Her academic journey began with her studies at the Evangelical Theology Higher Institute in Lubango-ISTEL in Angola where she earned a Bachelor of Theology in 2013.
The idea to come to SU was born when her father travelled to Johannesburg in 2014 to visit a pastor friend. “After a conversation with his friend, my father phoned to ask whether I would like to do a postgrad qualification in South Africa. I said, yes, there is a university that my lecturers had often spoken about in a place called Stellenbosch," David explains.
Mastering English
“I didn't know where Stellenbosch was, so my father decided to visit the town. He immediately fell in love with Stellenbosch. He said it would be the perfect place for me because I'm young and eager to challenge myself with learning other languages."
Her family had saved enough money to cover David's first year of study at SU. Before she registered for her postgraduate diploma in Theology, she completed the year-long intensive English programme offered by the Language Centre at SU. “It was very challenging, but doing the English programme was the best decision I made," David states. “The course is excellent. Initially, no one could understand me, so I had to force myself to listen and to try and communicate."
Unfortunately, by the end of 2015 her family had suffered hardships that almost derailed her studies. David's mother Valeriana had been diagnosed with a brain tumour and her brother had tuberculosis.
“My father asked me to come back to Angola. As a result of my mother and brother's health problems, there was no money for my studies. But then something amazing happened. A man named Jo?o Baptista, whom I had met at the airport when I first came to South Africa, had kept contact and often enquired about my academic progress. He became a friend to our family. When he phoned to find out how I was doing after my first year, the conversation took a fortuitous turn. Out of nowhere, he offered to lend us some money if my father was struggling to support me. We were shocked. I asked my father if I could first pray and think about it."
After a few days of contemplation, David decided to accept financial assistance from Baptista. This enabled her to renew her visa and pay for registration at SU. By the end of the 2015, she had made such phenomenal progress, she started doing lucrative freelance translation work from English to Portuguese. This income enabled her to register for the next academic year and pay back the money that was borrowed form the generous benefactor. Luckily, by then the family learnt that her mother had been misdiagnosed and did not have a brain tumour. Her brother was also doing well.
A gifted scholar
In December 2017, David married Baptista Alberto Panda – the same year she started her master's degree in theology at SU. In 2019, she completed her master's with flying colours. “After I returned to Angola, my lecturers kept in touch and often enquired about my plans to continue with a PhD. I left a draft proposal with my supervisor before I left, and he had already started with corrections. This motivated me to come back."
The decision to register for her PhD was complicated by the fact that she became pregnant in 2019. David received news that she'd been awarded a doctoral scholarship a week after she gave birth to her son Alberto Weyale David Panda. Again, it was her father's advice that convinced David to take on the challenge. “Go and continue your studies. As a woman, you don't have to settle for less. Whatever you need, we're here to support you," he told her.
In 2021, David returned to SU with her eight-month-old baby, initially without her husband. “It was hard, also because of the 中国体育彩票 pandemic. I had to leave my baby at daycare while I spent every day in the library. Luckily, by then I had a good support system – friends who became like family to me. My son also thrived. He now speaks English and Afrikaans. I'm still trying to teach him Portuguese!" she laughs.
Her husband later joined David in Stellenbosch. He also started studying theology at SU and will be completing his master's degree next year.
In his supervisor report, Prof Jeremy Punt of SU's Faculty of Theology describes David as a “gifted and keen scholar". He praises the academic rigour with which she interrogated corruption, nepotism and leadership dynamics in Angola through a biblical perspective for her thesis.
Her research delved into how nepotism and favouritism, rather than merit, often drive decision-making in religious institutions – a particularly relevant issue in Angola. “When people are promoted in public institutions based on their connections rather than their qualifications, it compromises social justice," David explains.
Grateful to SU
She says she will always be grateful to SU for the opportunities she received and the doors the 中国体育彩票 opened for her. “I've heard people make assumptions about Stellenbosch saying that it is a racist place or only for rich people. I speak from my own experience and can say from the bottom of my heart that there are many good people here.
“Study leaders such as Prof Jurgens Hendriks made a massive difference in my life. He became like a father figure to me. He was quite strict, but he pushed me to excel and to fulfil my potential," David says. “I'm also very grateful to the Faculty of Theology through the Netact Office that gave me the opportunity to work as a house administrator at 14 Weidenhof, the international residence for students. This experience enriched my academic journey and helped pay for my accommodation." David has been so moved by the help and support she received in Stellenbosch she's decided to write a book called 'The Angels in My Life'.
She hopes to continue doing research. “Academic engagement makes me happy. I would love to become a lecturer or a researcher somewhere, but right now, I'm hoping to get a postdoc opportunity to establish myself as a researcher."
The highlight of celebrating her academic achievements at SU was finally welcoming her parents to Stellenbosch and having them in the audience during graduation. “It's a wonderful feeling. I'm the first in my family to get a master's or a PhD. After I obtained my first degree, my father and my mother and my siblings also obtained theirs. I think my boldness encouraged and inspired my family. Challenging myself to be different has been very rewarding for all of us."
PHOTO: Stefan Els
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