Description:
Meg Vaillancourt profiles Nthabiseng Mabuza, a teenager from South Africa. Mabuza was 12 years old when she was paralyzed from injuries sustained during a raid of her home by South African security forces. The Fund for a Free South Africa has helped Mabuza and her family settle in Boston. She will receive medical care and here and willl teach local students about life under apartheid. Interview with Mabuza about growing up in South Africa under apartheid. Interview with her mother Anna Mabuza about the raid on their home by security forces. Interviews with Dr. Jane Schaller of the Floating Hospital and Themba Vilakazi of the Fund for a Free South Africa about their work with Nthabiseng Mabuza.
1:00:04: Visual: Footage of Nthabiseng Mabuza (South African girl) talking about being shot by South African security forces. Meg Vaillancourt reports that Mabuza was 12 years old when South African security forces raided her home in South Africa. Vaillancourt reports that Mabuza's aunt was killed in the raid; that her uncle was wounded. V: Shot of Mabuza sitting on a couch with Anna Mabuza (mother of Nthabiseng Mabuza) and her sister. Footage of Anna Mabuza talking about escaping from the Security Forces when they raided the house. Anna Mabuza talks about the members of her family who were shot by the security forces. Anna Mabuza says that Nthabiseng Mabuza is lucky to be alive. Footage of Nthabiseng Mabuza saying that violent raids by the Security Forces are common in South Africa. Shots of a photo of Nthabiseng Mabuza with a group of black children; of a photo of the father of Nthabiseng Mabuza. Vaillancourt reports that Nthabiseng Mabuza's father had been an active member of the African National Congress (ANC). Vaillancourt notes that the ANC has been banned in South Africa; that its members are considered terrorists. Vaillancourt reports that the Mabuza family lived in Botswana; that Nthabiseng Mabuza's father died in 1983. Vaillancourt reports that South African Security Forces attacked the Mabuza family in a cross-border raid. V: Shot of a color photo of Nthabiseng Mabuza. Footage of Dr. Jane Schaller (Floating Hospital) saying that Nthabiseng Mabuza had been shot in the abdomen and in the back; that Nthabiseng Mabuza's spinal cord was damaged. Schaller says that Nthabiseng Mabuza is paralyzed. Footage of Nthabiseng Mabuza in a wheel chair. A mechanical device allows her to be transported up the front stairs of a home. Anna Mabuza wheels Nthabiseng into the house. Vaillancourt reports that the Fund for a Free South Africa has helped Nthabiseng Mabuza settle in Boston; that Mabuza will teach local students about life under apartheid. V: Footage of Nthabiseng Mabuza being interviewed by Vaillancourt. Nthabiseng Mabuza says that it is hard for local students to understand what life is like under apartheid. Nthabiseng Mabuza says that children in South Africa grow up with apartheid; that black children in South Africa know danger and fear. Shot of her sister in the room with Nthabiseng Mabuza. Vaillancourt reports that Nthabiseng Mabuza will go to school full-time next month; that Nthabiseng Mabuza will receive free physical therapy from Boston Floating Hospital. V: Footage of Nthabiseng Mabuza working with her physical therapist. Footage of Schaller saying that doctors are trying to work with Nthabiseng Mabuza. Schaller says that she does not know if Nthabiseng Mabuza will ever walk again. Footage of Nthabiseng Mabuza in a wheelchair. She wheels herself through the house and into a room. Audio of "I'm Forever Your Girl" by Paula Abdul plays in the background. Shot of Nthabiseng Mabuza in her bedroom. Vaillancourt reports that Nthabiseng Mabuza has kept her spirits up in the face of hardship. V: Footage of Themba Vilakazi (Fund for a Free South Africa) saying that Nthabiseng Mabuza is like many people who live in South Africa. Vilakazi says that Nthabiseng Mabuza is optimistic and hopeful about the future. Shots of Nthabiseng Mabuza in her bedroom. Shots of posters on the wall; of Nthabiseng Mabuza reading a book; of her sister playing with a doll. Footage of Nthabiseng Mabuza being interviewed by Vaillancourt. Nthabiseng Mabuza says that she wants to meet other people her age. Shot of a color photo of Nthabiseng Mabuza in Africa.
Date Created:
01/18/1990
