Vrot. That’s how Carte Blanche producer, Graham Coetzer described the living conditions atMelchizedek, a huddle of condemned buildings in the Pretoria CBD. “Devs, it’s hectically vrot,” Graham said qualifying Melchizedek’s level of decay after he had spent an evening there with the police. But, I don’t skrik for vrot. I do vrot all the time.… Continue reading The Clutches of Melchizedek
Blogs
Not a Drop of Water to Drink
It’s dry in the Free State. Dry and hot. You can feel the dust in your throat. Matted into your hair. Pushed deep under your fingernails. Printed into your eyeballs. Five minutes in the sun is long enough to cause a heat rash. Livestock stand lifeless in the ruthless heat and along the N6 we… Continue reading Not a Drop of Water to Drink
What it’s like covering Oscar Pistorius
It all started with an SMS from a friend I hadn’t seen in a long time. Sash: “Any chance of lunch today? Please? Too many stories to catch up on.” Me: “Wish I could. But on Oscar today.” Sash: “Oscar?” Me: “Ya. Oscar Pistorius.” Sash: “Ag. Do you realise that for you, Oscar is like… Continue reading What it’s like covering Oscar Pistorius
Birth of Death
This was one of the most difficult stories I have ever had to work on. Heart-wrenching. What if you fell pregnant and, at 25 weeks gestation, you lost your baby? Just like that. One day you could feel your baby moving inside you and the next day, doctors say your baby is in trouble. Big… Continue reading Birth of Death
Wild Pets
You’re either an animal person or you are not. I’m an animal person. You’re either a dog or cat person. I’m a dog person. Cats make me feel like staff. Now, for the big money question … Are you an exotic pet person? Exotic pet, like a tiger? No thanks. I’m not off my head.… Continue reading Wild Pets
2. HIGH …..IN THE SKY FOR 24 HOURS.
Arrived safely in Orlando. After a total of 24 hours in the air and 11 hours in transit. 35 hours since we left home. Couple that with very little sleep and much drama the night before we left ……I am feeneetos. Feeneeshed. Kaput. I’m going to say something really stupid now…………… I was so excited… Continue reading 2. HIGH …..IN THE SKY FOR 24 HOURS.
1. Prologue
A holiday in America wasn’t on my bucket list. Only because I don’t have a bucket list. Always wanted one. Never got around to it. Most of my friends have bucket lists which include climbing Everest, meditating in Tibet, road trips along Route 66 in a roadster, swimming with dolphins, hot air ballooning across the… Continue reading 1. Prologue
Holding On Letting Go – Woman and Home
Carte Blanche journalist Devi Sankaree Govender, 42, lives in Lonehill with her husband Perumal Moodley, 42, and their daughter Kaiyuree, 13, and son Sayuran, 11. I’ve always been terribly neat, but lately, we’ve been living in chaos! A few years ago, Perumal and I took the children away to the Durban July for the school… Continue reading Holding On Letting Go – Woman and Home
Gita November
It’s after 10pm on a weekday night and transgender sex worker Gita November and I are standing on a Saldanha street corner. Hours earlier I realised I’m not appropriately dressed. Black boots, black shift dress and too much makeup. I look the part. (Listen to Devi read her blog.) The other working girls are looking… Continue reading Gita November
Just a spoonful?
At first, I didn’t get it. Why would somebody pile teaspoons of sugar into their mouths on a regular basis and like it? Drug addiction, alcohol addiction – I get that. Socially unacceptable, with devastating effects on the addict and loved ones. So this is how I walked into the first interview for our sugar addiction… Continue reading Just a spoonful?