Journalist and surfer Dave Macgregor dies at 55
David “Shaka” Macgregor, 55, who lived for surfing, died in the surf on Monday, apparently of a heart attack.
Under a blanket on Kelly’s Beach in Port Alfred, surrounded by rescuers, surfers and lifeguards, lay a man who encouraged hundreds of others to enter the ocean and relish its euphoria.
Macgregor was a friend and journalist colleague at East Cape News (ECN) and the Daily Dispatch.
Once a story grabbed him, he would not stop until it was done.
Authority of any kind did not sit well with him and while at ECN he rewrote the office dress code: baggies. Just baggies.
His pieces were published as page leads in many mainstream publications.
By the time he left the industry, he had built a majestic three-storey home for his family from a log cabin or two bought for a few thousand rand.
It became the foundation for the incredible, repurposed, recycled, reimagined Shaka Lodge, Surf Camp and Surf School in Port Alfred.
This was a magical place, surrounded by surfboard history, sculpture, art, a skateboard pit — every part expressing his boundless enthusiasm and creativity. Macgregor was raised in a surfing family.
His father, Stuart Macgregor, joined David and his sons Cuan, 26, and Kye, 20, on wave riding trips.
His mother, Anne Collinge, speaking from Trim, Ireland, said David was a “sweet, really clever boy” who fell in love with horses and the ocean as a five-year-old.
At 10, he would take plates of food to homeless people.
By 11, he had saved enough money working at stables to buy a horse.
His essay application won him a scholarship to the nonracial independent Natal Midlands school Treverton, where he refused to ride first class on the apartheid SA Railways and travelled third class with his two coloured schoolmates.
His ex-wife and mother of their boys, Jill, said David had such a passion for the underdog he would listen to anyone’s story, and bring any stray home.
He was a great supporter of poor young black surfers in Kowie, and former WSL surf champion Greg Emslie said he trained a number of black surfers who had come through David’s coaching.
Macgregor’s travels, actions, words and encounters with people have left a large impact, and the social media posts are many and moving.
Legendary SA surf forecaster and journalist Steve “Spike” Pike said: “Dave was a deep thinker and intellectual, constantly questioning and debating right from wrong in a world driven mad by fake news and a lack of accountability.
“He spoke proudly of his dad, Stuart, and tried to emulate him by being a role model to his own multitalented kids.
“He was many things to many people, but always a trusted friend.
“He was rather good at surfing too. RIP Dave.”
NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said Macgregor experienced a problem in the surf, was recovered to the beach and received extensive cardiopulmonary resuscitation to no avail.
“All efforts were exhausted and sadly the man was declared deceased.”