NC deaf community to celebrate sign language becoming 12th official language

THE DEAF Federation of the Northern Cape will hold an event at the Horseshoe Inn in Kimberley on Saturday to celebrate South African sign language (SASL) being included as the 12th official language in the country.

Guest speakers will include the manager of the Pan South African Language Board, Boichoko Moremi, and the manager, head of Retlamaleng Special School, Athalia Carlo, as well as Desmond Kgarebe from DeafSA national and the provincial chairperson of DeafSA, Morin Nodom.

Auxiliary worker at the Deaf Federation of the Northern Cape, Harry Setlogelo said this landmark decision follows many years of campaigning by DeafSA and the deaf community to have sign language recognised.

“It is a victory for the deaf community who can now access services including public education with the use of SASL,” said Setlogelo.