Beyond the Screen with News24 subscriber Morné van der Merwe

Born blind, Morné van der Merwe has found ways to fully embrace his hobbies. With a knack for cooking, a love for feel-good stories, and his beloved pets, here’s how Van der Merwe keeps an ear to the ground for his news updates with News24.

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By: Saara Mowlana & Visuals By: Tando Guzana

Nestled in the quaint, quiet town of Worcester you’ll find an NPO bridging the gap between the visually impaired and text media – the Pioneer Printing Press. Specialising in Braille Products, Audio Products, as well as Large Print Products, Pioneer Printing Press relies on a team of Braille proofreaders – the true heart of their organisation.

Morné van der Merwe, the organisation’s braille music proofreader finds pockets of peace by staying in and trying out new recipes, reading books, listening to music, spending time with his friends and pets… and staying tuned in to current events through News24.

Van der Merwe is one of over 80 000 subscribers who have partnered with News24 to bring quality, trusted journalism to South Africa. In this series I Am News24, we get to know some of our loyal subscribers and celebrate them and their shared love of the news.

Born blind, Van der Merwe navigates challenges many South Africans don’t even consider.

At just three-months-old, doctors confirmed that Van der Merwe had an eye condition called retinal displacement – meaning that he was born with underdeveloped retinas.

And, while he could stay updated with braille and audio versions of household name magazine titles like Huisgenoot and Rapport produced by Pioneer printers, Van der Merwe was still limited with his access to news.

“Somebody had to choose what would be published (in braille) or not. And sometimes sighted people would read me the newspaper also, but still, it’s a selection – so it was still limited,” he shares.

But his world expanded when news sites like News24 adopted technology that generates audio in-app and online.

“As a blind person, I was able to start reading news online. I discovered News24 and subscribed to News24 and now I can decide what to read – no sighted person will decide for me what to read as I can now read myself,” he enthuses.

“So, from limitations to, almost, borderless opportunity – I can decide what to read, without anybody deciding for me what to read. And that’s awesome – that’s really awesome!” Van der Merwe adds.

While his visual impairment may have hindered his sight, it did not dampen his spirit or goals.

His family moved to Worcester when he was a toddler so that he could attend Pioneer School for the Visually Impaired and learn to read braille and find his passion. After matriculating in 1999, Van der Merwe went on to study for a BA degree in Music and Languages at Stellenbosch University.

“For Music, I studied pipe organ and violin – and for Languages I studied Afrikaans, Dutch, and German,” he says.

This background has allowed him to find his calling as a braille music proofreader at the Pioneer Printing Press – where he’s worked for over a decade.

Enjoying his recently acquired news independence, Van der Merwe values the variety offered by News24.

“I can choose what I want to read – international, feel good, there are so many options to choose on the app or the website. There are no boundaries, I don’t get bored on News24, because there’s always something interesting – and that’s what I like about it. It’s a surprising journey that you embark on when you use News24 because you will always find something interesting,” Van der Merwe adds.

It's this variety and offerings that cover his hobbies and feature exciting tasty recipes he can try out as well as the feel-good stories that uplift him that make him happy to subscribe and pay for his trusted news freedom.

“I never had a problem to pay for news,” he says. “I don’t mind paying for news, as I know the money is invested well and it gives me peace of mind.”

Van der Merwe has this to say to young people who avoid the news: “Would you like to live in a bubble? Because when the bubble bursts one day, you’ll be surprised with what’s going on around you.”

“Read the news, although it can be negative. Stay informed. You can always go to the ‘Feel Good’ section and brighten up a bit. But life is not about positivity all the time.”

“Open News24 or a newspaper read the news, get informed, and make your own decisions – reading the news also challenges your way of thinking and teaches you how to make an opinion. So, reading the news is also ongoing education,” he says.

Watch the full video to hear more about how Van der Merwe makes the most out of his News24 subscription.

News24 is home to some of the country’s most groundbreaking, trusted and quality journalism. These stories are made possible by not only the journalists who write them, but also the subscribers who read them.

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