Sylvester Anthony John David O.M.I. (born 15 August 1953) is a South African Catholic prelate who serves as auxiliary bishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cape Town, in the Republic of South Africa since 6 June 2019. He concurrently serves as Titular Bishop of Gunugus. He was appointed bishop by Pope Francis. Before that, from 8 February 1991 until 6 June 2019, he was a priest of the Catholic Archdiocese of Durban, South Africa. He was concentrated bishop at City Hall, Cape Town, by Stephen Brislin, Archbishop of Cape Town, on 25 August 2023. He is a professed member of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate religious order.
He was born on 15 August 1953 in Durban, Archdiocese of Durban, KwaZulu Natal, in South Africa. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Durban-Westville. He went on to obtain a Bachelor of Arts in Counseling Psychology from the University of South Africa. From 1984 until 1990, he studied philosophy and theology at the Saint Joseph's Theological Institute in Cedara, KwaZulu Natal. He holds a Licentiate in Biblical Theology, awarded by the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy, where he studied from 1999 until 2002.
On 4 January 1984, he took his preliminary vows as a member of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. He then took his perpetual vows of that Catholic Religious Order on 15 February 1988. He was ordained a priest for that Order on 8 February 1991. He served as a priest until 6 June 2019. While a priest, he served in various roles and locations, including:
On 6 June 2019, Pope Francis appointed Reverend Father Sylvester Anthony John David, formerly the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Durban, to be the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cape Town. He was consecrated at Cape Town on 25 August 2019 by the hands of Stephen Brislin, Archbishop of Cape Town assisted by Cardinal Wilfrid Fox Napier, Archbishop of Durban and Jabulani Adatus Nxumalo, Archbishop of Bloemfontein. He continues to serve in that capacity.