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22 September 2021
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Story Michelle Nöthling
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Photo Supplied
Annemarie Le Roux.
“I love working with children.” This is one of the first things Annemarie le Roux mentions when asked to describe herself. This love for children propelled Annemarie into the field of education and she graduated in 2006 with a BEd in Foundation Phase at the UFS. Annemarie immediately immersed herself in the Deaf community, enriching the lives of children at the Thiboloha School for the Deaf in Qwaqwa and the De la Bat School for the Deaf in Worcester.
The academic world enticed Annemarie back to the University of the Free State (UFS) and she was appointed as a junior lecturer in the Department of South African Sign Language (SASL) and Deaf Studies in 2013. Going from strength to strength, Annemarie completed her master’s degree in SASL in 2019, and published an
article earlier this year that she co-wrote with Marga Stander. In this article, they found that SASL “has become an increasingly popular language that hearing university students want to learn as a second language” and subsequently explored different teaching methods used for this emerging group of interested students.
Although now firmly established in academia, Annemarie is still committed to the practical application of SASL. “I am closely involved in student and community engagement through the
SIGNALS Sign Language student association that helps empower the Deaf community and South African Sign Language.” She also interprets for the Deaf community whenever she gets an opportunity, as well as for Deaf students in class and meetings.
On the importance of Sign Language and the recognition of the Deaf community in South Africa, Annemarie believes it will open greater opportunities for development. “More people will be able to learn SASL, and it might even become a subject in school for hearing children.”
Temporary closure of Qwaqwa campus
2007-03-01
Issued by: Dr Ezekiël Moraka, Vice-Rector: Student Affairs
The management of the University of the Free State (UFS) has decided to temporarily close its Qwaqwa Campus in the Eastern Free State out of concern for the safety of staff and students.
The Qwaqwa Campus will close today, 1 March 2007, until Monday 12 March 2007. Students who live in residences on the campus will be allowed to return on Sunday 11 March 2007. Only registered students will be allowed back.
This decision has been taken in the light of the damage to university property (including the dining hall and kitchens) on Tuesday 27 February 2007 by a small group of students and the continuing risk of further damage to property or injury to persons.
A small group of students were protesting against the appointment of a catering company to provide meals to students. However, the management wishes to state that the appointment of the company took place by means of an open and inclusive tendering process which also involved the Student Representative Council (SRC) of the campus.
The UFS remains committed to the use of existing channels of communication with students in order to resolve any problems that may occur, but will not accept violence as a means of finding solutions.
Media release
Issued by: Anton Fisher
Director: Strategic Communication
Cell: 072 207 8334
1 March 2007