ASADCASE
Whata spoilt,entitledandsickening
childThomasKlintworthis forsuinghis
motherforhiseducationalfunds(YOU,
8 August).
HereinCanadastudentsworktwoor
threepart-timejobstopayforresidence,
feesandlivingexpenses.Nooneexpects
theirparents,whoarehard-working,
supportingotherchildren,payingoff
homesandsoon,totreatthemlikebirds
wrappedincottonwool.
I hopeThomasloseshiscaseand
learnstobecomeself-sufficient.Stopbe-
inga childandbecomea man.Somany
intheworldhavesolittleandaregrateful
forwhattheyhave.Thisboyneedsto
spendtimehelpingthoselessfortunate
thanhimselftolearnrealvalues.
I sincerelyhopethejudgeinthiscase
realisesthisandtellsThomasthathis
parentsowehimnothing,andthathe
needstogrowupandfinda part-time
jobtofinancehislifestyle.
KARENSALTZ,ONTARIOSO MUCH TO LIVE FOR
T
HE story of Taylië
Jaap’s remarkable
recovery (YOU,
8 August) reminds me
of my daughter.
In 1995 shewasflung off the back of a
bakkie.Shebrokeher right wrist and her
lefteyepoppedout of its socket. She had
bloodonthebrain, her head doubled in
sizeandshewasunconscious for two
weeks.Doctorstold us if she survived
she’dendupbrain-damaged.
Throughthegrace of God she pulled
throughandgother driver’s licence a
monthafterbeing discharged from
hospital.LikeTaylië, she says she had an
encounterwitha higherpowerwhileunconscious but decided she didn’t want
to die because she had a lot to live for.
Unfortunately, her Road Accident Fund
claim wasn’t paid out but, as she says, life
goes on and she’s grateful.
LOVINGMOM,WESTERNCAPEI
T WASa delighttoreadtheinter-
viewwithZamaniSaul,premier
oftheNorthernCape.
That’snotsomethingyoucan
sayoftenwhendiscussingpoliti-
cians.Usuallywhenwereadabout
thepeoplewhorunthecountryit’s
aboutcorruption,infighting,back-
stabbingandalltheothernasty
thingsthatpermeatepolitics.
Butthispoliticianisaninspira-
tionbecausehe’sputpeoplefront
andcentreofeverythinghedoes- asit shouldbe.
Insteadoftakingadvantageof
theperksofhisoffice,he’sused
thatmoneyforservicedelivery.Not
forhima luxuryvehicle– instead
he boughtambulancesforhis
province.
Zamaniprovesitcanbedone
right.He’sshownthatthoseelected
topositionsofpublicofficecanuse
theopportunitytodogoodthings
andimprovethelivesofthepeople
whovotedforthemandthatthey
don’tneedtofallforthetrappingsof
power.
Turntopage 10 formore.Let’s
hopeonedaypoliticianslikehim
becomethenorminsteadofre-
mainingtheexception.
WINNING
LETTER
‘Doctors told us
if she survived she’d
end up brain-
damaged’YOU subscribes to the SA Press Code, committing us to
journalism that’s true, accurate, fair and balanced. If you feel
we don’t comply, call the Press Ombudsman on 011-484-
[email protected].
- Email [email protected] • SMS 36489
TALK TO US • Post YOU, PO Box 7167, Roggebaai 8012
Letters should be no longer than 200 words. Opinions expressed here aren’t necessarily
those of YOU’s editorial team. We can’t undertake to reply to all letters. The sender of the
winning letter receives R300.SI wonder if Louwna Klintworth will be
able to sue her son, Thomas, for mainte-
nance when she’s a pensioner if she can’t
support herself due to her having worked
to pay for his education?
I paid for my kids without their father’s
support, but they both worked to con-
tribute. They never felt entitled and I told
them truthfully that it was tough for me.
PROUD MOM, SMSYOU’RE SPECIAL
I want to change how people feel about
themselves. For years I’ve been trying to
fit into society and I’ve realised only re-
cently that I’m perfect the way I am. I
want everyone to know they’re special.
You have to love and appreciate yourself.
I don’t need anyone to tell me they love
me or that I’m beautiful. I’ve already told
myself that.
Appreciate yourself for who you are
and stop looking for approval from
some body else. If no one loves you for
who you are, it’s their loss.
SYBIL MOSEBOTSE, EMAILWINNING WITH YOU
I’ve been doing the YOU crosswords for
many years and have won four times: a
freezer and R250 meat from Checkers in
1989; R1 400 worth of Tupperware in
1992; an iPod, R1 500 and1kg Cadbury
chocolates in 2011; and an Avon gift pack
in 2012.
I’ve kept all the pages in my scrapbook.L
IKEmakingdentsmanyheendsuniversityfindsmeett toughstuand
hascommutet mepensestotohelpworkandfundinhislivinghissparedailyex
ThomasdidherbitKlintworthButwhichhewouldnsaysiswhyf hishet havemothers suingto
herlockedtersrandThefor 19 man a b tteryearaccountingntenanceoldUncourtversitystudentbattleofwithisWitwanowhi
momAfricansI mnotandtryingit hastooutragedportraymanyherasSouta ba
motherchanceI wantThomasis toatThomaslifeslanderrecentsaysherdecisionI justThewantlasttosuea fairthinghis
momcausingcommentatorsLouwnaa buzzKlintworth(55)onhavesocialcriticisedmediaandhashimmostbeenfor
histhinksaysThactionstheys iswhatreadultshappensonewhenFacebookchldrenuser
histhanAnothermoma spoiltandbelievesbratdoesnwhot knowhehass nothingnotherespectvaluemoreforof
moneyCOUGHUP,
MOM,I HAVE
TOA studentSTUDY!is suinghismother
sheforhiscaneducation,t affordwhatbutshehe’saskingsays
BYJACQUESMYBURGHPICTUREONKGOPOTSEKOLOTIdencecostsI veButhadaloneThomasbecausetohemoveexplainsmysaysoutdadthisofuniversitycanisnt covert thecaseresithe
westatCratheirTheg KlintworthoffirstJohannesburglawyeryearstudents office(55)areinandKrugersdorptalkinghistofatherYOU
suingfamilyInhishiscourtpetmothertionThomasinandescrtheofficeJohannesburgbesmanagerhowhes
formaintenanceincludingclassThomasacturers andpocketanddonCraigt wantmoneya weaponstodiscussmanthe
oductss toldmonthcificmonthlytheforR620mediagroceriesa monthamountitncludesandforbutpersonalLouwnaclothesR3^000(^50) r lunchtivitforesoutingsR500R500forandpocketrecreationextracurricularmoneyandR700hol
daysmonthHeadngs claimingandformaterialclassR100a monthfeesa furtherandforR3R2leisure 404200 fora
ccommodationmountuwnaarguesofR11 (^074) shes alreadyallincontriballan
utthatexpensesngHerR3cost (^300) andtoa monthcancompanyt affordtowardsanyismoreR50her 000 thansonsa
monthR27Thomas 000 AfterlawyerdeductionsVickysheLouwtakessayshomethe
tiaryd vorcenaButmustCraigeducatdocumentpayclaimsa setonandporthestipulateshiss payingonfatherofherthatthesontheLouws terlionrests
opportunitiesshareCraigYousaysofneedhissonLouwnatoins expenseslifegivethatjustyourrefusesyouchildcana l theoffer
ag
wsh
d
feeufTha
sphapraem
Rafo (^5) c
idrem
Loaa
H
ISwithandparentsThomashisdaddivorcedsincehasbeen 2017 inliving (^2013) He
I cant remembersaysmothermovedhisindeterioratedrelatwiththelastonshiphistimefatherwaftertht felthishe
asmomdoesnif welovest feelwerelikememothershebuts supportingandatthesonmomentI knowwhatmyI mit
longertryingButMyasmoma firsttoneedsaccomplishfeelstoyearsupportnowstudentI mhemesaysoverI canfinanc^18 t expectsheallyno
responsibilitytiarymyfathereducationtopaytoforcontributeeverythingtomyIt s herter
theHighheThomastopmatriculatedSchoolaccountingshowedinJohannesburgfromstudentgreatParktownpromiseinhisandwhengradeBoyswas
countantandArmeddreamswithheofdecthea careerdedpromisetoasstudya charteredofa bursaryatWitsac
bursariesherThomasButsonLouwnahadntellst botheredtolda d fferentRapporttoapplystorynewspaperthoughforany
A fewtriculatebyscandalmonthsh s prestigiousbeforehewasschoolsetwastomahit
yearsofcoachsexualInNovemberinatprisontheassaultschoolafter^2018 Thomaswashewasa formersentencedclaimsfoundsportsguiltytothe^23
scandalwillingbleAfterbursarytothatcostgiveincidenth mmehisa bursarychancesthefirmwofthata possithdrewwas
I stillofbursarythisHehadstartedyearuniversityandhismovedstudiesadmissionintoatthea studentbeginningbutresno
idencetooThomasmuchbutsaysforthehisfinancialdadI hadburdentomovebecameout
ateeldestMyThomasmominbrotherchemicalsupportedis ones workingofmicrobiologythreemysiblingsonbrotherhisatanddoctorWitsinhishis
me?studiesThomasWhysayscanhet sheworksdotwothejobssameforhes
a waepoortcommuteweekendstertoandWitsfromandalsoh s dadasuseswelldeliverss houseasthispizzastoincomebuyinRoodovertextto
booksmalI havevarsitynot mestudenttoleadandtothesocialiselifeofa norwth
mysaysfriendsandmeetnewpeoplehe
T
HOMASthousandsAfricanstouniversitycanisoft affordawareyoungandthatSouthtothatit sgo
peopletoovivea dailyHemuchstrugglethinkalsoandherealisesthatjusts askinghemanytos thesurfor
badtheyButguydontheyt understanddont knowtheheinsistsfullstoryand
wanttoHeI mmisaysthek mynotbestmothera spoiltthepossibledecisionbratforfutureandeverytosueI mpennyfornothismyselfmomtryI justng
thewasnthingmybestdreamsI decidedt takenopportunitcomelightlyontrueesa whiminThislifewasnandI justtot somemakewant
amendedwastoLouwnamyreviewedmeanssosaysI onlyinherOctoberhaddivorcetopaysettlementaccord^2017 andng
tionshipaffordShethenshewithteworkedlsherYOUsonoutShesouredwhataddssheherbecausecouldrela
shemostlifestyleHishadnexpensivefathert beendecidedwiresidencelingtosendtosponsorathimWitstotheh sHe
dencelifestyledoesnhavet needa cartoliveorinleadanexpensiveanextravagantresi
haveforforithimIf I hadwealthyJustbutthelikemyparentsmoneyalls tuationthestudentsI d absolutelyhedoesnhaswhotot allowworkdonpayt
a messageitweekendsLouwnaButt seemsontoaddsaffordMotherThomasHeluxuriesdidns Dayis havingt evensendnonemeof
S
Thomassaysforvilfiedmaintenancehe’sKlintworthforjustsutryingnghisbuttos bemomheng
safeguardhisfuture
bestLouwnationshipButheshereckonssouredandcanwithThomassheShethecansaysbeforeresourcespayshe’sthemoresher reladonghasthe
LEFTABOVEt mehandedlytoLouwnaThomas’supportsupportingsaysthefatherexpensiveherh s sonsonCraigshouldfinanciallysayslifestyleworkhe’ssinglehepartwants
nancParentsa chofthemselvesa lyldturnssometimesrespons^18 ”saysblemistakenlyRichardforther offsprChemalybelevenga lawyeruntiltheycanthestopfromchildBloemfonteinpayingisindependentmaintenance“Butandparentscanassoontakeareascarefi
they’reorisA“Butcourtmentainchoosingthewilllydisabledconsidercasenotoftoa childparentsexploitcertawithn exceptthemusta universparentspayonsmatyChemalycanntenancedegreedecdesaysoruntilwhenone“ f a childwhothethey’hasende goinghasopportunoftheirDowntochild’ssyndromediscontintiesl fe
ueminecircumstancesmaintenancef parentshowmucharen’t”Themaintenancepayingcout wimaintenancel likelys duetorulethethen favourchchildlddependcanofgothengparentstocourtonthe“Thedependinglifestylecourtthey’rewionl detertheac
customedisneedsHeaccustomedaddssucha chtoasandtoldfoodthecana lifeparents’clothingt claimofluxuryaccommodationanfinancialarbitrarythecourtmeansamowil cons”medicalnt“Thedercourtthatcareandwilltoo”classprioritfeessef themportantchld
WHO’SRESPONSIBLE?
8 | | 9
YOUNEWS
OUayliëerfirstatanda shoppingtimemomoutCharman publicmal n CapeneLeonards nceTownthemetfallItwas
S
HEtheneyesblinksarebutmostlyhereverybigclosednowbrownandand
fromheadscarbrowcurlsbeneathandacrossdownherbeaniehertoforehera
shesignswalksoftheslowlytraumaTayliëandherJaapspeaksbodylookssoftlyhasfragileenall
duredeyesagoIt s irritatingatsincethesamethatnightmaretimethatI canthetwot open 19 yearmonthsbothold
saysbraintientTayliëButtoandgowaitorthedowndoctorLalaforasthesaysherswellinglovedI mustonesonbepacallmy
a secondhermadestoreyheadlineswndowwhenofshethefellSerruriafrom
sudokuwellstrengthenasandexercisingitdoingbrainherleftexerciseshandtoas
p stdoctorsHerSometimeswillspeedyandjusttherapistsrecoverysitandmyoccupationalstarehasTayliëatsurprisedmesaysbecausetheraher
shecant believehow well I’m doing.”
S
HEthissheS clearly a fighter – after all, s had to face in her life.isnt the first challenge
a tertheRualsinglefamTayliës mother, Alicia, was a lymom. In 2011, a year and her older brother of three moved from
LambertofDea vicftCapeouss BayattackTownon the West Coast to Alicia was the victim
lysspeechSheCharmainengsufferedherleftand her husband, Hein side and affecting her a stroke as a result, para-
(46)plewhenManylegallyshetookrumoursAliciaadopted Taylië.passedin to care for her and did the rounds after away in 2016, the cou-
Tayliëhervisiont s nottoofs falljumphertruemother which had caused ncluding that she’d had a she says.
rippedtheAnoShewindowshakesheroffrumourherherclothes and jumped out head. She doesn’t want is that she went crazy,
toI veshesaddwewantshadl onenoughisthetonegativity, she says. All focus on her recovery. of crying and feeling
tothatwentThemakenighttodayseea formal statement but she WhenbeforeTayliëshe’s ready, she’ll have our interview, police with questions about
aboutturnwantsThetoonlytoherunrecoverfutureversitythingis that she wants to re-first.as soon as possible.she knows for sure
wonI donAfterI mt lethungryt knowallthisI gotthing get me down. fora second chance. why – maybe I’m going success,” Taylië says. “I
toSliceAfrica!SiyabulelabespokesmanthefirstMalofemale president of South saysa WesternthecaseCapeisstipol
underinvestigationS
FirstmgyTayliëcrobiolostudentyearJaap
faa seconds recoverngl fromfromher
storeywindowofn Stellenherres
boschWesternCape(BELOW)
I STOOD
BEFORE GODresidence on thecampusofStellenbos
University in the26 May (YOU, 20The first-yearBScJune)WesternmicrobiologyCapest
dent, who was stayingries in the bafflingon her head andhours of the morningsustainedfallatduringtheserioushosteltheinjeaf
frustrations – her– but she’s willingHer recoveryhaseyetodoproblembeenwhatlitteredit takesforemowito
recover so she canr ghtclassI ll goeyel kethiswithbacka concentratedshesaysevenresumeasf I havesheherwidenseffortstudiestositherin
Attat veWemotherasrespeakingshecallsCharmainehertoTayliëina shoppingandLeonardheradopmallor
infallCapethatTowntheyoungIt s thewomanfirsttimes venturingsinceher
outplainedmaineShen publics doing(55)ofbesayswell “althoughngtiredearliersheCharcom
tersinceDoctorsShes falls alsoreceatvingStellenboschbeenthethroughnewsofHospitaltheherwringerdaughgave
Tayliëgoodbyes lovedtoheronesthreehourstosay
within thatbeen declaredIf therehadtimeframebrabeennon deadreactionshewouldfromherve
make it. relives thatwas icy coldCharmainedayalreadybecomesWhenI d dnemotionalI gott ththerenkasshesheshed
to her.”within theblessed her“I calledhourmyThenpastorHesuddenlyprayedandforlifehearrivedreturnedherand
C
ERTAINshethatclearwasfatefultopartsTaylcompletelynightëofthesuchareeventsstinakedaswhyl unof
Shecanwhengroundt recallsheoutsidethatwaspartfoundatallonCharthe
spruitdoesmaineTayliëremembersecondarysaysa formerschoolheadarrigirlMatlSchoonb
aroundgdmngonedntheandNeelsieghttowhata tervisits
eremainshent sheTayliëI hithasa mystsaysa vithe
hadedandt sheGodwithflashbacksthinkstoeachwafor
Eventuallyn themlethetimetableI stoshewhe
uldnlledrselfdalthoughint seeherfrontbyHimoh
é JaapdoHemeTayliëtoldI hadshemesaystoChI hte
ospd andonWhenHetaldisorwasdaysshecomlatentwo
ciallybeenwasIthappyinwasasheavenniceshethoughttheres
whatlotlowingA renewedofhelpedpainweekssheawarenesherwhensaysthroush
armMybackAthurtonepointmyheI
Two months after Taylië
nearly died when she fell
7m from a hostel
window, she recalls how
her life flashed before her
eyes and she saw heaven
BY MARELIZE GRBICH lsvinhetua friendinMalgd bedentatenmesburytceninhstudye restreher
heryagroundppenedI wasa ter
Jofustvsidheammemorygyoneventenreof
giveolflashbackebmereadI
n I wfoundfGodas
mershHefulle
ahmonadl thewornak
ierokeedngshesoonupespwasine
shehesaysdjustI
s ofgh thee wasGodfolinisa
adsaidhurtLordmy
please just take me now becausepain is too much’.” Apart from her serious head injurytheshe
also hurt her right wrist in thewrist is healing well. A few of herbrae had shifted but doctors werealthough she’s since had surgeryand7mablevertefalltheto
reposition them. also had to say goodbye to her long locks. A fortnight after the accident, Taylië
Two nurses had been washing her hair when they discovered another wound at the back of her head. “One gasped and I wondered what was
going on. Was I dying?” Her hair had to be cut so the wound could be properly treated.After about a month in Tygerberg Hos-
pital in Cape Town, where she’d been transferred from Stellenbosch Hospital, Taylië was transferred to a hospice in
nearby Karl Bremer Hospital.There she’s spent her days playing
cohn
uellly
thst
ingSheroo
thgonatWB
wlafeshk
evfrlitteo
hanccaeo
ndrt
confusthe
20 | | 21
YOUNEWS
4 | 22 AUGUST 2019 you.co.za^
YOU SAY