Bo Kaap teacher kicking it abroad

"I didn’t always know I wanted to become a teacher," said Uthmaan Kannemeyer from Bo-Kaap, who is currently pursuing his Master’s in Education at Albukhary International University in Malaysia.

He left his "comfort zone" in April 2021, unsure of which career path to follow. Coming from a sporting family, with a brother who had already earned Western Province colours in rugby, he decided to pursue teaching.

"To be honest, I was never really good at subjects like physics, accounting, or anything in the business field. But over time, I realised that my strength was in who I am, in my personality. I enjoy connecting with people, breaking down ideas simply, and helping others grow," Mr Kannemeyer said, adding that, as a "Bo-Kaap boytjie," it was a big move stepping out of his comfort zone.

"It was exciting, but also scary. Being far from home, figuring things out on my own, and adapting to a whole new culture wasn’t always smooth."

Being from Cape Town and raised in Bo-Kaap, a vibrant community full of culture, resilience, and untold stories, he grew up listening to tales of the past.

"I was surrounded by elders who had lived through apartheid, a time of deep struggle and hardship. Today, my generation faces a different kind of challenge: the rising cost of living, where resources and opportunities often feel limited and out of reach," he said.

Mr Kannemeyer’s teaching journey began during his undergraduate studies in education in Malaysia. While still learning how to teach, he naturally stepped into leadership roles.

"That’s when I discovered that teaching wasn’t just an option, it was something I truly connected with on a personal level. It became clear that this is the path meant for me," he said.

"I had to lead, explain, and support others, whether in group projects or student activities."

His first real experience in the classroom came during his teaching practicum, where he taught English, Mathematics, and Science at primary school level.

"That’s where I truly saw that a teacher is not an easy job; it was more like an initiation for me," he said.

After completing his practicum, he continued to grow by taking on part-time roles at Universiti Utara Malaysia International School (UUMIS), where he taught various subjects, served as the Physical Education teacher, and worked as the sports coordinator, helping to organise events such as Sports Day and interhouse tournaments.

While not teaching full-time abroad, Mr Kannemeyer remained actively involved in student leadership and educational engagement.

While doing all of this, he went on to conduct his thesis research on leadership strategies and student behaviour in rural Malaysian schools.

But the journey has not been without challenges for the Bo-Kaap teacher, who has faced difficulties and often missed home along the way.

"It’s definitely not easy. Speaking from a student’s perspective, people often see those living abroad and assume it’s all beautiful and exciting, but what they see on the outside doesn’t always reflect the reality on the inside," he said.

There were moments of self-doubt when he asked: “Did I make the correct choice about leaving my home. If I were at home, would things be much easier? How long do I have to go through this?”

This was coupled with late nights and unexpected obstacles, each one accompanied with a lesson around the value of "resilience, patience, and purpose", Mr Kannemeyer said.

"Your family can only support you with finance if you need but sometimes the help you need is not finance. I am a man of faith; therefore, this is where life has taught me, only the Almighty can help you and in the end,, everything that I was worried about was alright," he said.

Coming from a sporty family, most would have though Mr Kannemeyer would follow in the footsteps of his brothers and father, but deep down he always knew he’d follow the path of a rugby coach or something in fitness full-time.

"My life had revolved around sports, therefore expectations were that I should follow the same route, but I realised that I should write my own story. So when I chose teaching, it definitely came as a surprise. It was a shift, especially because it wasn’t the 'expected' route," he said.

"My family has always supported passion and purpose, and once they saw how seriously I took my studies and how much joy I found in the classroom, they stood by me."

He has not left sport behind, as he became the president of their Ultimate Thunderbirds Frisbee team and later founded the university’s very first Falcons Rugby team.

"What made this even more special was the diversity of our players. having played alongside teammates from Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Ghana, Tanzania, Nigeria, Somalia, Sudan, Guinea, Senegal, Mali, Morocco, and Bangladesh, and many more," Mr Kannemeyer said.

"As a rugby player from a sporty family, I genuinely believed I’d play for the Springboks, sing the national anthem with pride, and dive over the try line at Ellis Park. But then… reality gave me a hard tackle."