Participants from the UFS Got Talent hosted by
the Department of South African Sign Language
and student association, Signals.
Photo: Siobhan Canavan

The Department of South African Sign Language (SASL) and its student association, Signals, hosted a UFS Got Talent show but - with a twist. With September being Deaf Awareness month, the Department of SASL celebrated deafness and sign language with the crowning of Miss Signals 2016 and an overall winner of the talent show.

Talent show with a twist

The entertainment programme, which consisted of song, dance, poetry and comedy, was conducted entirely in sign language with Kovsie FM presenter, Mawande Mateza, as the MC for the day. Joining in the festivities, Mateza even introduced himself by signing his name.

The event, which took place on Friday 16 September at the Thakaneng Bridge, saw many come out to support the deaf community. The judging panel included Susan Lombaard, lecturer at the Department of South African Sign Language and Stefan Lotter, Mr Rag 2016.

The ladies for the win

Mpho Lebaka, a second-year Psychology student who enrolled for Sign Language as a subject, took home the Miss Signals crown. Nyasha Chikiwa, a deaf second-year Fine Arts student, walked away the winner of the talent competition with her comedy piece.