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22 July 2020 | Story Nonsindiso Qwabe | Photo Supplied
Tau Tladi.

In times of great difficulty, a tale of hope goes a long way in encouraging one to persevere. Tau Tladi, a second-year LLB extended-programme student who was diagnosed with ataxia – a degenerative disease of the nervous system – at a young age, has conquered many adversities. He is living his life to the fullest, pursuing his dream of becoming a lawyer one day. Because of a brain injury during birth, Tladi struggles to speak, write, or walk. On campus, he makes use of a scribe and reader to write his tests and exams. 

Learning from others key to success

“Living with ataxia means I have improper speech, I struggle to walk properly, my hands can’t grab things properly, and I can’t even write with them.   Seeing other people living with disabilities and still pursuing their dreams has inspired me a lot; it made me realise that I too have the ability to achieve my dreams,” he said. 
While this disability presented him with many hindrances in life, it has never held him back. “Growing up was challenging because I was not able to develop like other children. As I got older, I could not experience some of the things that other kids could do, such as playing and running around,” he said.

Triumph in the face of adversity
 
Despite all the challenges, Tau completed his matric in 2016 and was even named as one of the top 100 achievers in the Free State. He describes his admission to the LLB programme as a dream come true. “I have always wanted to study an LLB degree. It is the best feeling ever to be at university and studying something that I always wanted to do. I would love to become an attorney.”

Tladi hopes to finish his degree in 2021. He is also an avid sportsman, having participated in the Free State paracycling team and winning first place at the national competition. 

“Living with disability has never been easy for me, so I have learned to be grateful and use every opportunity that I come across and work very hard to fulfil my dreams.”

Hanlie Grobler, Senior Officer in the Faculty of Law, described Tladi as a remarkable young man who always wears a smile on his face. “If you are feeling a bit blue today, cheated by COVID-19, that life is unfair to you – remember this young man who is an excellent example of determination, and do what you have to do, to the best of your ability, and be thankful for what you have.”

News Archive

Fracking in the Karoo has advantages and disadvantages
2012-05-25

 

Dr Danie Vermeulen
Photo: Leatitia Pienaar
25 May 2012

Fracking for shale gas in the Karoo was laid bare during a public lecture by Dr Danie Vermeulen, Director of the Institute for Groundwater Studies (IGS). He shared facts, figures and research with his audience. No “yes” or “no” vote was cast. The audience was left to decide for itself.

The exploitation of shale gas in the pristine Karoo has probably been one of the most debated issues in South Africa since 2011.
 
Dr Vermeulen’s lecture, “The shale gas story in the Karoo: both sides of the coin”, was the first in a series presented by the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Science under the theme “Sustainability”. Dr Vermeulen is a trained geo-hydrologist and geologist. He has been involved in fracking in South Africa since the debate started. He went on a study tour to the USA in 2011 to learn more about fracking and he visited the USA to further his investigation in May 2012.
 
Some of the information he shared, includes:

- It is estimated that South Africa has the fifth-largest shale-gas reserves in the world, following on China, the USA, Argentina and Mexico.
- Flow-back water is stored in sealed tanks and not in flow-back dams.
- Fracturing will not contaminate the water in an area, as the drilling of the wells will go far deeper than the groundwater aquifers. Every well has four steel casings – one within the other – with the gaps between them sealed with cement.
- More than a million hydraulic fracturing simulations took place in the USA without compromising fresh groundwater. The surface activities can cause problems because that is where man-made and managerial operations could cause pollution.
- Water use for shale-gas exploration is lower than for other kinds of energy, but the fact that the Karoo is an arid region makes the use of groundwater a sensitive issue. Dr Vermeulen highlighted this aspect as his major concern regarding shale-gas exploration.
- The cost to develop is a quarter of the cost for an oil well in the Gulf of Mexico.
- Dolerite intrusions in the Karoo are an unresearched concern. Dolerite is unique to the South African situation. Dolerite intrusion temperatures exceed 900 °C.

He also addressed the shale-gas footprint, well decommissioning and site reclamation, radio activity in the shale and the low possibility of seismic events.
 
Dr Vermeulen said South Africa is a net importer of energy. About 90% of its power supply is coal-based. For continued economic growth, South Africa needs a stable energy supply. It is also forecast that energy demand in South Africa is growing faster than the average global demand.
 
Unknowns to be addressed in research and exploration are the gas reserves and gas needs of South Africa. Do we have enough water? What will be the visual and social impact? Who must do the exploration?
 
“Only exploration will give us these answers,” Dr Vermeulen said.

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