How the SATS General Botha is charting a course for a new generation – Old Salt Tony Nicholas
The General Botha was originally an ex-Royal Navy cruiser, later converted into a training ship that served as a nautical college from 1922 to 1989. To honour the proud legacy of South Africa’s only training ship, former students established the SATS General Botha Association Bursary Fund in 2011. The fund aims to provide life-changing educational opportunities for young South Africans pursuing careers in maritime studies. In an interview with BizNews, Tony Nicholas - chairman of the association and himself a former cadet, shared what it meant to train four Chiefs of the South African Navy, a Victoria Cross recipient from World War II, and a Mayor of Johannesburg. Nicholas explained that the training includes compulsory school projects, mentoring, and a range of activities such as swimming, pre-sea training, sailing, and motor boating, all supported by skilled volunteers. He noted that the Bursary Fund is viewed as a way to perpetuate the legacy of the General Botha and honour all those who trained aboard her.
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Edited transcript of the interview
Linda van Tilburg (00:00.344) Today, we’re joined by Tony Nicholas from the General Botha Association Bursary Fund, which provides selected students with a life-changing opportunity for a world-class education in the maritime industry. Hello, Tony, thanks for joining us.
Can we start with the General Botha training ship? What did it represent in its heyday, and why does its legacy still matter?
Tony Nicholas (00:33) Well, it was originally an ex-Royal Navy cruiser, purchased in 1922 by a wealthy businessman from Durban who donated it to the South African government for use as a training ship. The correct term isn’t “commissioned” like military vessels, but rather “named” or “christened.” In 2022, we celebrated its centenary with the byline “a century of honourable duty.” It was South Africa’s first and only training ship, and it trained numerous individuals over the years.
In its heyday, it had an annual intake of about 75 youngsters, some as young as 13. It was a two-year course, so on average, there were 150 teenagers training on this old Royal Navy cruiser, moored just off the town jetty in Simon’s Town. Many high-profile individuals trained aboard that ship, as well as many low-profile ones like myself. The ship produced no fewer than four chiefs of the South African Navy, a Victoria Cross recipient from the Second World War, and, pro rata, one of the highest percentages of awards, decorations, and medals. There are 83 names on our cenotaph, which, pro rata, is a significant number.
Moving into civilian life, we’ve had a mayor of Johannesburg, senior directors of the national shipping line, one of whom received the Star of South Africa, a civilian decoration. That legacy endures. In 2011, as you mentioned our bursary fund, a group of us came together to celebrate the 30th, 40th - my own - 50th, and 60th anniversaries of being on the training ship.
Old salts flew in from the UK, Australia, and beyond. During a visit to Lawhill Maritime Centre, part of Simon’s Town School, I stood up during a presentation break - what they now call my “ad break” - and mentioned that we sponsor an annual prize for a deserving matriculant at Grade 12, but we couldn’t afford a bursary. From that, our bursary fund was born. Launched in 2011, we awarded our first bursaries in 2012, and it’s grown considerably since. It’s an ongoing challenge to attract sponsors, initially funded by our ex-cadets. We’ve since received codicils from old salts and now rely largely on corporate sponsorship, which has been quite successful.
Beyond bursaries, we run a sail and motor training programme, though we’re still searching for a better name. It’s costly, over and above the bursary funding.
Linda van Tilburg (04:56) What are the students taught, and who are these young people aspiring to maritime careers?
Tony Nicholas (07:00) The students come from all over South Africa - Bloemfontein, Welkom, Pedi in the Eastern Cape, and beyond. While Simon’s Town School is in Cape Town, and we’re primarily based there with a strong branch in Durban, many arrive with little knowledge of the maritime industry, often drawn by the free bursary. Our motto is “nurturing sea fever.” At Lawhill, a boarding school that’s more than a home from home, they study three maritime subjects: marine sciences, like marine biology; maritime economics, for shore-based roles like shipping agencies or logistics; and nautical science, covering navigation.
They still study standard school subjects - maths, science, English - at Simon’s Town School, but at Lawhill, they learn chart work, electronic navigation (Hectus), and basic celestial navigation, which gets more advanced at tertiary level for those who qualify academically and show the aptitude to serve at sea.
Linda van Tilburg (09:42.36) Can you share examples of what happened to students? Where have they ended up?
Tony Nicholas (09:47) Our primary goal is for youngsters to follow in our footsteps and pursue seagoing careers. Many are now at sea, serving as officers or cadets, with some reaching second officer rank - third in command on a ship. Others have taken different paths. One student completed her three years at university for seagoing navigation but then pursued law at the University of Johannesburg. She’s now a lawyer and recently joined our bursary fund’s board. Others work in shore-based maritime roles, like logistics or running tourist boats. One recent matriculant operates tourist boats with 20 to 30 passengers along the peninsula to Cape Point, a significant responsibility. He also works for a diving company, trained to dive, and so forth. They’re all over the place, really.
Linda van Tilburg (11:52) What’s the feedback? Do they come out thinking, “I’m so glad I did this because it’s set me on a path I hadn’t considered”?
Tony Nicholas (12:03) Definitely. We’ve received numerous accolades. I can’t recall them offhand, but in a presentation I’m giving in two weeks, I’ve listed several. One recent example came from a student from a rural area in the Eastern Cape who matriculated last year. When we bring them on board in Grade 10, one of the first things we do is provide swimming lessons. I have a wonderful photo of him in the Navy pool, his head dunked underwater, with a priceless expression of terror. After swimming lessons, in partnership with the National Sea Rescue Institute, we put them through a Personal Survival Techniques course, which includes jumping off the town pier in Simon’s Town into the water. It’s not terribly high, but for most, it’s intimidating. They wear wetsuits and helmets provided by the NSRI.
This youngster was terrified, trying to back away, while some of the girls showed him up. But he did it. Last week, he posted on LinkedIn, saying that whenever he faces a challenge, he thinks back to that moment, which gives him courage and purpose in life.
Linda van Tilburg (14:17) Such a lovely story. To wrap up, Tony, what’s your background? Do you still sail?
Tony Nicholas (14:22) No, I’m an old salt myself, retired in 2015, I believe. I was born in the UK; my father was Royal Navy. When the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle was commissioned, he was part of the crew, and I was baptised aboard it, born about two months earlier. From then, my ambition was always to go to sea, which I realised after we immigrated to South Africa. I joined the national shipping line and spent over 20 years at sea. Circumstances led me to a shore-based role, travelling along the coast with big ships into Mozambique and elsewhere. Later, I took over a shipping agency office for an international line. It was a highly successful career with good memories and solid training. The values from our training ship, which was phased out in 1987, endure. We formed the Bursary Fund to perpetuate the ship’s storied legacy and those who trained aboard it.