We here at Doof.co.za just want to congratulate Darren Rajbal on winning SA's Got Talent!

This just goes to show, that a deaf person is capable of achieving Much Much More than we give them credit for.




He started his act when he did his first mime, then choreographed it into a dance. He has been dancing since the age of 13 years. His greatest accomplishment was when he won R15000 for his school (ZKWALA DEAF POERTY) he came 1st in the region. He aspires to be like Michael Jackson.

He does not have friends because of his disability but he spends all of his time with his mom and step dad. He gets along very well with his step dad. Darren is the youngest of four children his brothers are married and drive taxis. Darren is very independent, from the age of 11yrs he was going to school on his own using public transport. He enjoys cooking, play station and movies. Darren has done a plumbing course and received A’s for his exam and he is currently doing a building course. His mom says very often girls come to the house looking for Darren – so he is quite a ladies man!

His Philosophy in life is: “Dreams are challenges and challenges are possible”. His biggest challenge in life is being hearing impaired. He entered the show to showcase his talent and be a role model to the hearing impaired

* Darren spends most of his time with his mom and dad
* He loves cooking with his mom, he cooks great Chinese
* Darren is really very independent
* He plays play station and enjoys watching DVD’s with his mom and dad
* Darren is the youngest of four children all boys
* Does not see his brothers often

 Stellenbosch. - Die sesjarige Rentia Meyer het gister by juffrou Johannita Kruger se gr. 1-klas van die Laerskool Stellenbosch ingestap om soos duisende ander sesjariges in die Wes-Kaap haar eerste skooldag te beleef.

Sy het net breed geglimlag en haar kop met bonsende blonde boksterte geknik toe sy gevra is of dit lekker is om nou in die groot skool te wees. Wat Rentia se paadjie tot dié mylpaal anders maak, is dat sy doof gebore is.

Toe sy twee jaar oud was, het sy ’n kogleêre inplanting gekry. Dít kos sowat R250 000 per oor, het haar ma, mev. Rina Meyer, gister gesê. Die gemeenskap, veral skole en kerke, het saamgespan om geld in te samel. “Toe ons weer sien, was alles ingesamel,” het Meyer gesê. Ná die operasie het nóg vier láng jare voorgelê. Meyer het gehoor dat kinders klank voor die ouderdom van twee jaar aanleer, en sy moes hoor dat Rentia waarskynlik nie normale spraak sal ontwikkel nie. Rentia moes elke Vrydag na die Tygerberg-hospitaal gaan en in die week alles toepas wat sy daar geleer is.

Daarvoor is die spraakonderwyseres me. Juanita Smit se dienste ingespan. Eers is Rentia se gehoorsintuig geleer wat klank is. Toe spraak. Meyer vertel trots Rentia het nou die taalvaardigheid van ’n gewone sesjarige. “Sy het nie meer ’n agterstand nie. Dit is ’n wonderwerk.”

Meyer het gesê die gesin moes baie help. Veral haar broer, Christiaan (12), het baie gehelp dat sy nou kan praat. Christiaan, wat in gr. 2 by juffrou Kruger in die klas was toe Rentia die inplanting gekry het, het gister foto’s van sy sussie se eerste dag in gr. 1 geneem voordat hy sy jaar in gr. 7 begin het. “Ek kan nie glo sy is al so groot nie,” het hy trots gesê. “Dit is baie lekker.” Terwyl sy drukkies vir haar nuwe leerders gegee het, het me. Kruger gesê sy gaan ’n omringklank-stelsel in die klas gebruik. Sy voorsien nie probleme om Rentia te onderrig nie. “Sy is ’n ongelooflike meisietjie. Hoe sy gevorder het, is ’n wonderwerk. ’n Mens kan dit nie glo nie.” - JAN GERBER - 22/01/2009 12:57:08 AM - (SA)