Jooste gets support after Carte Blanche

Cape Town - After an interview with Joost van der Westhuizen was broadcast on Carte Blanche on Sunday night, M-Net and the former Springbok scrumhalf received overwhelming messages of support, according to Volksblad.

During the interview, presenter Derek Watts hammered Joost, 41, with hard-hitting questions about his battle with motor neuron disease, his children and protracted divorce from estranged wife Amor Vittone, and the fallout after a sex tape featuring Joost and another woman was leaked in 2009.



Shortly after the interview aired, social networks were abuzz as Joost and Carte Blanche shot to the top of the Twitter trending topics.

Viewers Tweet their support

One Twitter user Duan Wanty wrote: "My heart goes out to Joost. Nobody should have to fight like this to see his own children on a more regular basis."

Joost took to his Twitter page soon after, thanking his supporters for their kind words of encouragement.

"Thank you to EVERYBODY for your support!!!! Live your life to the fullest and be thankful for what you have!!!"

M-Net also came out saying that that they are overwhelmed by the reaction they received.

"We did not expect such a huge response from our viewers," Ingrid Engelbrecht, spokesperson for M-Net said. "We are thankful that Joost had a chance to share his story in a personal way."

'I am still alive and not dead yet'

In 2010, Joost was diagnosed with motor neuron disease and was told to prepare for the worst.

Carte Blanche revealed the extent to which the disease had ravaged Joost's once-athletic body - his speech was markedly slurred and he was unsteady on his feet.

"Sometimes it is hard to think about the fact that you may not be able to see your daughter on her wedding day, or that you will be able to play with your boy," an emotional Joost told Derek Watts.

The episode also revealed the support Joost was receiving from his parents, Gustav and Mariana van der Westhuizen, as well as ex-Springbok James Small and former SuperSport presenter Darren Scott.

Derek asked Joost if he ever feels like giving up on any hope. He replied saying: "I needed to make a decision: I can sit here and just die, or I can live life to the fullest and enjoy every moment I have. I always wake up with a smile on my face. I am still alive and not dead yet."


SOURCE : NEWS 24