It’s a generally misunderstood way of life, but young transgender men and women are breaking the stereotypes. This Sunday, we meet two transgender women as they fight against discrimination on a daily basis.
The post Coming up: Being Transgender appeared first on Carte Blanche.
The Krugersdorp Killers – the bizarre story of a family and friends who allegedly brutally murdered 11 people to get revenge. Devi Sankaree Govender takes a close look this Sunday at 7pm on M-Net.
The post Coming up: Murder by Appointment appeared first on Carte Blanche.
There is nothing that upsets me more than seeing people suffer, especially those who are less fortunate than most. People whose lives are riddled with poverty, crime and a lack of resources. What is even more heartbreaking, is to see the children raised in these circumstances, who have little hope and almost nothing going for them. It’s unfortunate that even after such a long time, we are still crippled by our past and suffocate from life due to inequality, economic imbalances and a government which seems not to care.
One cannot ignore South Africa’s history with the mining industry; it is an industry which formed the backbone of our economy for many years. In fact, the province of Gauteng borrows its name from the Sotho word Gauta that means gold and thus Johannesburg is fondly known as the city of gold… However we also cannot ignore the fact that these riches, which only benefitted a few, all came at a hefty price on the environment, society and many broken families. Due to apartheid, spatial planning and the greed of the mining houses, people were also forced to live in close proximity to the mines so they could get to work.
One such area is Snake Park where government-built homes, extended with tin shacks, are squeezed in between old Soweto and a mine waste dump that has been there for over a century. The people call it ‘The Mountain’. This is where people, animals and the environment have had to live with the toxins emanating from one of the worlds largest mine dumps. According to the South African Chamber of Mines guideline, people shouldn’t live closer than 500 metres to a mine dump. This is not the case with Snake Park, and upon visiting The Mountain with the Carte Blanche team, we were shocked by what we discovered. We spoke to the locals and got to know that in almost every street there are one or two, and sometimes up to three, children born with cerebral palsy. This is a disorder that affects brain development, often causing problems with speaking, vision and muscle movement.
Children and residents of Snake Park are plagued by TB, lung problems and silicosis. Many people also often complain of sore eyes. These poor children living in shacks, whose parents cannot work due to their children needing extra care and having special needs, are in a dire situation. Their parents are mostly single mothers who are unemployed and cannot afford to take them to special schools. Some children are abandoned at children’s homes due to shame and the stigma of having a disabled child. Now, we cannot for certain say that this is all caused by the mines. However David Van Wyk, a sociologist and principal researcher for the Bench Marks Foundation, a foundation which monitors the ethics of mining companies, says “there is a very, very close link between cerebral palsy and uranium, but it could also be caused by arsenic, it could also be caused by lead. If you ingest uranium, it can change your DNA codes and your DNA codes can scramble the way the kids come out”.
All these toxins are found at the mine dump which is near Snake Park, and nobody wants to take responsibility; not the mines, not government, nobody.
The post Children of the Mountain appeared first on Carte Blanche.
For four years, the community of Krugersdorp’s been living in fear. It seemed a merciless serial killer was on the loose, having killed three people in a matter of one month. However, no one could dream up the true horror and bizarre nature of this killing spree spanning from 2012 and 2016. Following a lengthy investigation, police finally nabbed not just one person, but an entire family and their friends for the murders. But that wasn’t the end of it.
In late 2016, one of the six accused, John Barnard, turned State witness and shared everything he knew. His testimony was chilling – not only were the so-called Krugersdorp Killers allegedly linked to three murders, but a further 8 victims were also now possibly linked to the killers. What started it all? According to Barnard, a fallout between the supposed leader of the murderous group, Cecilia Steyn, and a member of a church group called Overcomers Through Christ set off a lengthy and bloody killing spree. The quiet community of Krugersdorp was stunned.
But Krugersdorp residents and the families of the victims could also finally breathe a sigh of relief, as the Krugersdorp Killers finally appeared in court, facing over 30 charges including murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, theft, fraud, intimidation and racketeering.
We take a look at the accused, the victims and the Krugersdorp Killers’ trail of tragedy.
The post Krugersdorp Killers: A Trail of Tragedy appeared first on Carte Blanche.
Transgender is a little understood identity and for some, coming to terms with being a trans person, is the struggle of a lifetime. Elle and Siya often face difficult questions about their gender identities, but they believe that being transgender is the ultimate expression of living. Carte Blanche explores how these women are helping to break the stereotype.
Producer: Nicola de Chaud
Presenter: Claire Mawisa
The post Being Transgender appeared first on Carte Blanche.
Protea Glen residents have warned illegal land invaders to stay away from a piece of land near the Soweto suburb, saying they will not tolerate the erection of shacks next to their homes. But the land invaders seem determined, resulting in violent clashes with police. According to research, the majority of land invaders are after residential spaces to be able to live closer to a working economy, rather than agricultural land. Has the invasion of land in Protea Glen turned the traditional notion of so-called land grabs on its head?
Producer: Nicky Troll
Presenter: Macfarlane Moleli
The post Protea Glen Land Grabs appeared first on Carte Blanche.
The battle between the Democratic Alliance and Cape Town mayor, Patricia de Lille has finally come to a head. After months of attempting to remove De Lille from office through internal party disciplinary processes, the DA finally succeeded by withdrawing her membership. As the party continues to defend its position, De Lille insists she’s not going without a fight and some analysts believe that these recent events show that the DA is imploding and losing support in its key constituencies. Carte Blanche analyses a party in crisis.
Producer: Liz Fish
Presenter: Macfarlane Moleli
The post De Lille vs The DA appeared first on Carte Blanche.
They’ve been dubbed the Krugersdorp Killers: the bizarre story of the Steyn family – a mother, her two teenage children and friends who are on trial for the brutal murders of 11 people. The group unleashed a reign of terror that lasted 4 years, allegedly committing additional crimes ranging from robbery, aggravated assault and fraud to identity theft. But how did their killing spree finally come to an end? Carte Blanche investigates.
Producer: Kate Barry
Presenter: Devi Sankaree Govender
The post Krugersdorp Killers: Murder By Appointment appeared first on Carte Blanche.
How did a 16-year-old teenager become the youngest aquaponics farmer in South Africa? This Sunday, Claire Mawisa meets this extraordinary young entrepreneur.
The post Coming up: The Youngest Aquaponics Farmer appeared first on Carte Blanche.
Why did three unknown assailants plan and execute a brutal assault on members of a Durban mosque? This Sunday, Macfarlane Moleli asks: was this a targeted attack on the Muslim community or warning signs of possible terrorist activity on South African soil?
The post Coming up: Holy Wars appeared first on Carte Blanche.
This Sunday on Carte Blanche: a recent mosque attack in Verulam has left the Muslim community shocked and uncertain. Was this a targeted attack or warning signs of terrorist activity on South African soil? Later, a 16-year-old teenager is making a name for herself in the aquaponics industry, running one of the largest farms in the country. And, new technological advancements are helping those without a voice to find their own sound. Join us this Sunday at 7pm on M-Net channel 101.
The post Coming up on 20 May appeared first on Carte Blanche.
On a certain Friday afternoon in 2013, my life was changed forever after watching the movie Dolphin Tail.
My dream of becoming a Marine Biologist was born, and a journey started.
My name is Rikalize Reinecke. I am now 16 years old and attending Afrikaans Hoër Meisiesskool in Pretoria. I also reside in the hostel during the week.
I am an aquaculture and aquaponics farmer and started with a small setup in January 2014. In the last 4 years, it grew to a commercial facility where I now have 88 000 fish and 2500 plants. This includes a breeding programme, hatchery and grow-out facility, and a decoupled aquaponics system to clean and re-use the waste water generated by my facilities. Altogether this totals a footprint of 720 m2. At the end of last year, I opened a shop not far from the farm where we sell fresh produce from the farm as well as equipment for hobbyists and other farmers. I was privileged to attend the World Aquaculture Convention last year where I had the opportunity to present a paper to the delegates. I also attended a workshop with Dr. James Rakocy at Stellenbosch University to further advance my knowledge of aquaponics.
My academics and school life are my highest priorities at the moment. I pride my school by participating in the school symphony orchestra and serving in leadership positions. I am currently serving on the Student Representative Council of the school and hostel. Being in a position of leadership facilitates opportunities to create a better tomorrow and to be an example to my fellow learners.
During the past few years, I have been approached by many visitors to my facilities to design a smaller system for urban and rural areas. I see each time as an opportunity to create public awareness and grow the industry. With every new farmer that joins this industry, I know that we can eventually provide food for more and more hungry children all across the globe.
My next goal is to roll out my Modular Aquaponics System, “LAPPIES”, in rural areas, providing food. Once the roll-out program sets off, I would also like to establish a youth entrepreneur program to teach and assist the youth with entrepreneurial skills.
My long term goal is to expand my catfish production with a new production and grow-out facility within the next 12 months. After school, I want to study ichthyology.
I believe you are never too young to make a difference.
The post [GUEST BLOG] Rikalize: You Are Never too Young to Make a Difference appeared first on Carte Blanche.
Your voice is inherent to your identity. Without it, you not only can’t speak your mind and share opinions, but an essential part of what makes you you is missing.
For countless of people around the world, not having a voice is part of their daily reality. Numerous things could cause a person to lose the ability to speak – whether it’s a neurological disorder, traumatic brain injury or even cancer. However, thanks to new technological advancements in Augmentative and Alternative Communication devices, the possibility of regaining one’s voice is becoming more real.
One such technology available right now is synthesised voices. In essence, this technology enables specialists to create an entirely unique voice for each person. From customising the accents to fine-tuning the tone of voice – it’s possible for patients to now reclaim their voice.
In order to make this possible, researchers are in need of voices. Your voice. VocalID is inviting individuals from across the globe to donate their voice, and it won’t cost you a single cent.
Simply register here and start recording. The software will give you specific phrases to read aloud, and you don’t need any special recording equipment or a studio. Each voice donor will be required to provide about 2 to 3 hours of recordings. This is done in various 15- to 20-minute sessions.
Once you’re done, your voice will be added to The Human Voicebank where over 20 000 voice recordings are already available to those most in need.
The post How to Donate Your Voice appeared first on Carte Blanche.
Combining aquaculture and hydroponic farming methods, aquaponics farming is breaking new ground in agriculture. It is a difficult and complex undertaking for even the most experienced farmers, but 16-year-old scholar, Rikalize Reinecke still manages to operate one of the largest aquaponics farms in the country. Carte Blanche meets this extraordinary entrepreneur.
Producer: Annalise Lubbe
Presenter: Claire Mawisa
The post The Youngest Aquaponics Farmer appeared first on Carte Blanche.
The ability to speak is something many of us take for granted, but for those who have had strokes, accidents, throat cancer or been diagnosed with motor neuron disease, voice loss can be a devastating reality. Robotic machines such as the one used by Stephen Hawking have helped the voiceless communicate, but they sound impersonal and generic. Now researchers are creating unique, personalised voices for those who can’t speak for themselves.
Producer: Laura Byrne
Presenter: Claire Mawisa
The post Voice Banks appeared first on Carte Blanche.
Never before in South Africa’s history has there been an act of such violence in a place of worship, as the attack on the Shia Imam Hussain Mosque in Verulam, Durban.
What could have motivated three suspects, posing as worshippers, to brutally assault three people – one of whom has succumbed to his stab wounds? The suspects then burned down a library with a collection of Holy Books. Police found a spray paint can, pair of glasses and an explosive device under the Imam’s chair. Has ISIS extremism reached our shores or are there local forces fuelling the hatred?
Producer: Jacqui Jayamaha
Presenter: Macfarlane Moleli
The post Holy Wars appeared first on Carte Blanche.
As one member after another leaves a Pretoria-based church group, questions emerge about their brand of Christianity that dismisses the Holy Trinity and allegedly subjects adherents to indoctrination and coercion. Fashioned around the personality of their leader, a self-proclaimed reincarnation of King David and the new Christ on earth, former members say this is a cult that has split apart families and isolated their members from society for the church’s financial gain.
Producer: Graham Coetzee
Presenter: Devi Sankaree Govender
The post Church or Cult? appeared first on Carte Blanche.
This story brought to light how privileged I am. Most of us can change the TV channel, recount a story to friends or order a meal at a restaurant without much difficulty. The ability to communicate what we want, or to simply change what we don’t want, allows us to navigate our way through our daily activities and through life.
I struggle to imagine not being able to communicate or do for myself what I choose, but I had the opportunity to meet two incredible boys who allowed to me to get a glimpse into what that world would look like. These two young boys suffer from severe physical disabilities and are confined to wheelchairs. On top of that, they do not have voices.
Now let that combination sink in for a moment. So, not only can they not do for themselves, they also cannot communicate what they need or want. Imagine not being able to tell someone that you’re cold, that you need to use the bathroom or that the physiotherapist is hurting you? You are helpless and vulnerable.
These individuals are easy targets for abuse because they are silent and cannot even defend themselves. They are completely cognitive, but their bodies have betrayed them, and they are stuck within a physical prison where they are at the mercy of those around them.
I met Nasi and Alexander at New Hope, a comprehensive special needs school in Pretoria. Both have a great sense of humour, are bright, gregarious, and have bubbly personalities; typical of any boy child. The difference is that, for me to be able to communicate with them, we had to use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices.
“This device is clearly a lifeline for Nasi. It allows him to interact with the world. It is how he has been able to go to school and participate meaningfully in class.”
AAC devices assist those who cannot speak or those who struggle to speak. Perhaps the most well-known AAC user was Stephen Hawking, who lost his ability to speak because he suffered from motor neuron disease.
A device that assists with communication could be as simple as a tablet, or it could be a multi-screen console, depending on the user’s abilities and needs. Nasi has dyskinetic cerebral palsy, which means he has no control over his body movements. To communicate, he uses an eye gaze device that has been calibrated specifically for him.
The way it works is that he simply has to look at an object, word, letter or pre-programmed phrase on the screen long enough, the machine then tracks his eye movements and generates speech from his selection. This device is clearly a lifeline for Nasi. It allows him to interact with the world. It is how he has been able to go to school and participate meaningfully in class.
The device that Alexander uses is slightly different in that, unlike Nasi, he does have some control of one hand, and so is able to use a touch screen that is similarly pre-programmed with phrases that allows him to communicate.
It was an absolute delight to chat with both of them and witness how, through the use of these devices, they could transcend the barrier of communication.
Nasi and Alexander have never been able to speak, and these electronic sounding voices that they’ve had for about a year now have meant a communication breakthrough for them.
It was an absolute delight to chat with both of them and witness how, through the use of these devices, they could transcend this barrier of communication.
The joy and positivity I received from these two young boys about their AAC devices was in complete contrast to the other end of the spectrum of AAC users – adults who are in the process of losing their voice. Being diagnosed with a degenerative neurological disease inevitably means that at some point you will lose your voice.
This is devastating, as it means once independent, articulate individuals will slowly regress into a silent prison where they are completely dependent on another person. There is also the obvious comparison one will make between the new robotic tones of the AAC to the voice you once had. But even these adults were grateful for what the AAC could do to preserve communication.
The feeling is that the new voice will be inadequate, and users won’t feel represented well by it. Increased awareness around the voiceless and how to communicate with them needs to happen.
Unique challenges to South Africans is that AAC devices are not yet available in most of our official languages, but research is continuing on how this can be available to those who do not use English or Afrikaans as home languages.
I was left optimistic that there will be many more Alexanders and Nasis that will experience the freedom of communication with this life-changing technology.
The post Can You Hear Me Now? appeared first on Carte Blanche.
A church in Pretoria, Christ In Me International, has been labelled a cult by former members. However, the church disagrees. Following our story on the church this past Sunday, we have made the full interview with church leader Xandré Strydom and the church’s public relations and legal representative, Jaco Eloff, available below.
Jaco also provided further written responses following the interview. You can read the response below.
From: “Jaco Eloff“
Date: Fri, May 18, 2018 at 10:12 AM +0200
Subject: Correct facts and statements to be used in program.
To: “Graham Coetzer”
Hello Graham,
Thank you for the opportunity to respond to some questions in writing.
As telephonically discussed we need to clarify some of the answers in response to Devi’s questions. I kept the answers within 5 lines to enable you to use all of it as per your instruction and also underlined the core points.
We believe that Carte Blanche must present the truth ,and in the spirit of this truth we provide you with a factual correct response set out below in writing as per Devi’s questions.
1. Upon the presentation of the email drafted by Jaco in December 2013 we wish to respond as follows:
We sincerely apologize to Carte Blanche and the viewers for the inconvenience caused. We were only able to gather the facts in question after the original interview because the question was not part of the agenda sent through which we belief would have prevented this written response. Xandre did not give church money to his father. Xandre, also did not invest money at his father’s company. Xandre, on behalf of the NPC, made a loan towards his father’s company. The loan was repaid in full. Jaco raised the questions in the email because he was not aware of the transaction and questioned the processes taken regarding the transaction in line with good corporate governance. After the email was received by Xandre he admitted to the board shortly after that he was unaware of the mistakes he made by following the wrong procedures when the NPC did the transaction. Since then the organisation has implemented policies and procedures to prevent the mistakes made by us in 2013.
Regarding the question asked by yourself at the end of the interview of Xandre being anointed as Christ and referred to as king.
2. This is our response regarding the question relating to Xandre as Christ:
Xandre is no more Christ than every born again believer. He is only the first one to preach it. That is why he is perceived as radical. He is not a reincarnated Jesus Christ. Because of the cross we are all Christ(or Anointed) as believers. When he teaches people who they are he refers to every person as Xandre Christ, Jaco Christ or Neels Christ… etc. You either live on this earth as an Adam, or a Christ. Xandre believes he is Christ(Anointed) and not Jesus Christ. He refers in sermons to this to teach people who they are as Christ, a born again species. He has never ever asked anyone to call him lord or Christ when refering to him. NEVER. When people say this they do it because they honor him for who he is in their lives and what he has done in their lives. He is our leader, so he is also lord of this house. As a husband is lord of his own house. Accoring to biblical language.
3. This is our response regarding the question relating to Xandre preaching that he is a king:
Is Xandre refered to as a spiritual king David. Absolutely. Many leaders over the years have been referred to spiritually as biblical characters. God anointed Xandre as a spiritual king David in 2013 by a word of God. It is a spiritual reference as we minister spiritual things to spiritual people. Xandre has however NEVER EVER asked anyone to call him David or to call him king. The Bible says Jesus Christ made us kings and priests. When God anoints someone as a spiritual king to lead His church suddenly it becomes strange. We at CIM discern the signs of the times… and do not brainwash people to call a man king before they speak to him. He is our spiritual father and leader. A king to a kingdom and also Christ to a Christ species as born again children of God. Called to awaken the church not by himself but by the Word God sent through him. Please refer to our website where we explain our scriptural belief. We are not ashamed of the word we are preaching, it is the gospel of Christ.
4. If you choose to broadcast the discussion regarding the budget form we wish to add the following:
We belief it is the church in general that has the responsibility to teach its members to be good stewards as this is a biblical principle instructed by GOD.
5. Regarding the question whether we break up families and marriages we respond as follows:
We believe in marriages and families but even more for what it represents. For this reason we believe that both marriages and families should be educated in Christ. Therefor we apply biblical principles to both marriages and families. Families and marriages break up due to the parties unable to reconcile in one lifestyle due to different religious opinions or faith.
In line with the ethos of responsible journalism should the producers decide to continue with the broadcasting of the story, the correct facts must be stated and not the inaccurate conversations that took place and we would definitely have opted for a “retake” on the topics above if we knew beforehand we could. We are positive that to broadcast the inaccurate “takes” will create confusion and have a material negative impact on the organisation, its members and broader community which we belief is not the aim of the program.
Regards,
Jaco
The post FULL INTERVIEW: Christ In Me International appeared first on Carte Blanche.
Germany is fast becoming the epicentre of future transport engineering, where roads will become obsolete as driverless taxis take to the heavens in crash-free, pollution-free skyways.
The post Coming up: Taxi Drones appeared first on Carte Blanche.
