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SASL Star: Annemarie Le Roux

22 September 2021 | Story Michelle Nöthling | Photo Supplied

“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.”

News Archive

Protest actions planned for 12-14 March 2008

2008-03-13

Three protest actions will take place on the Main Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS) in Bloemfontein this week.

Although the interim court interdict granted to the UFS on 6 March 2008 is still in force, permission for the three protests was granted by the Mangaung Local Municipality and the court, in the presence of the university lawyer. Strict conditions have been set for these protest actions.

The UFS management respects the right to peaceful protest and also shares the sentiment of the protesters regarding the reprehensible Reitz video. However, strict conditions have been set for these protest actions as students are writing tests and the normal academic activities should not be disrupted.

Already the first picket protest took place today, Wednesday, 12 March 2008, by about 300 Satawu and Nehawu members. This was not a march and no memorandum was handed over.

On Thursday, 13 March 2008, Nehawu will again picket in front of the Main Building from 13:00 to 14:00. This event must be peaceful. This too is not a march and no memorandum will be handed over.

On Friday, 14 March 2008, a march of Cosatu and Nehawu will take place, starting in the city centre. The march will enter through the Nelson Mandela Drive gate and will enter the campus grounds.

However, it will be limited to the incoming lane of Chancellors Avenue from the Main Gate to the crossing with Alumni Avenue (in front of the Odeion building). Speeches will be made and a memorandum will be handed over.

It is expected that the march will reach the campus at approximately 10:00 and from then the Nelson Mandela Gate to the UFS will be closed for all traffic. The march must end by 14:00. The marchers will return to the city centre and may cause a traffic problem in Nelson Mandela Drive.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) and the UFS’s Protection Services Division will monitor all these actions. Staff, students and visitors to the campus are kindly requested to use alternative gates to the Nelson Mandela entrance on Friday. Academic activities will continue as normal this week.

Media Release
Issued by: Anton Fisher
Director: Strategic Communication
Tel: 051 401 3422
Cell: 072 207 8334
E-mail: fishera.stg@ufs.ac.za
12 March 2008

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