18 September 2026
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Story Siqhamo Hlubi Jama
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Photo Supplied
Participants in the 2026 Silent March made their way along Park Road towards the University of the Free State during Deaf Awareness Month. The annual initiative brought together UFS and CUT staff, students, and community partners to promote inclusion, accessibility, and equal participation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing persons.
Walking three kilometres in total silence turns a routine campus walk into an undeniable statement. Staff and students from the University of the Free State (UFS) and the Central University of Technology (CUT) gathered in blue attire to march from CUT’s Main Gate to the Kovsie Health Lawn at the UFS. The annual Silent March marked a national initiative in light of Deaf Awareness Month.
A call to conscience and action
Addressing participants before the procession,
Prof Mogomme Masoga, CUT Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Teaching and Learning and former UFS Dean of The Humanities, urged walkers to reflect on the purpose of the journey.
“It is a very important march, because it appeals to our conscience,” said Prof Masoga. “It is a call to action grounded in care and consideration. Acknowledging and respecting all of us means understanding that how different we are does not take away our capabilities and gifts. We all have different gifts, and we all matter.”
Prof Masoga emphasised that higher education institutions must champion accessibility, particularly following the official recognition of South African Sign Language (SASL) as the country's 12th official language. He noted that language must serve as an instrument of empowerment rather than a barrier to equity.
Reflection on the move
“When you walk three kilometres, you get a moment of reflection, especially when you do it in silence,” Miranda shared. “You walked it for a cause, and that is to raise awareness regarding the Deaf community's human right to access through sign language.”
Miranda expressed gratitude to members of the Deaf community in attendance, thanking them for sharing their language and culture so freely over the years. She reaffirmed that sign language interpreter services provided through the UFS Academy for Multilingualism exist to uphold human dignity and equal access to information.
Building inclusive futures together
The march brought together student leaders, municipal representatives, and chapter nine bodies, including the Commission for Gender Equality. Walkers used basic sign gestures along the route, choosing visual connection over spoken words.
Through joint initiatives such as the Silent March, the UFS advances its commitment to building responsible societal futures. By removing communication barriers and fostering mutual respect, both institutions continue to cultivate environments where every individual is valued and empowered to thrive.