Rhulani Baloyi, an award-winning journalist and TV host for the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), learned that she was partially sighted as a child before going completely blind as a teenager.
The 2011 Census Data estimates that there are 7.5% of South Africans with disabilities. 11% of the population admit to having mild or severe visual impairment.
As South Africa approaches the end of National Disability Rights Awareness Month, Baloyi reflects on her disability, personal achievements, aspirations and challenges with SABC Digital News producer, Lebo Tshangela in this bi-weekly feature, Thrive.
According to her, the media only covers disability issues in November. “In South Africa, we spend a lot of time, rightfully so, talking about gender issues, including everybody, about the LGBTQI community, aware of how important it is. Well, talk about racial issues, well even sometimes talk about class issues. If you are like me, you are a black woman and you have a disability, sometimes you feel like no one cares for your plight.”
Below is the full podcast:
Related: PODCAST: THRIVE Part 1: Former Western Cape councillor with paraplegia shares his story
Related: PODCAST: THRIVE Part 3: Former JSE employee with paraplegia shares her story
Related: PODCAST: THRIVE Part 4: Single amputee Randi Ndele shares his story
Related: PODCAST: THRIVE Part 7: Journalist and para-athlete star Palesa Manaleng shares her story
Related: THRIVE Part 8: Mosala Makhetha shares his experience of being a Deaf person in SA
Related: PODCAST: THRIVE Part 9: Northern Cape woman with Erb-Duchenne Palsy shares her story
Related: PODCAST: THRIVE Part 10: Single amputee, Robert Masambo shares his story
Related: PODCAST: THRIVE Part 11: A bank employee with visual impairment shares his story
Related: PODCAST: THRIVE Part 12: Politician Poppy Mocumi shares her story about disability
Related: PODCAST: THRIVE Part 13: A businessman who is partially sighted shares his story
Related: PODCAST: THRIVE Part 15: Former MP, Andrew Madella shares his story about disability
Related: PODCAST: THRIVE Part 17: A Gauteng woman with epilepsy shares her story
Related: PODCAST: THRIVE Part 18: Former MP Thandiwe Mfulo shares her story about disability
