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SASL Star: Lerato Sheila Thamahane

22 September 2021 | Story Michelle Nöthling | Photo Supplied

Lerato Thamahane may be able to speak and understand all nine of South Africa’s official African languages, but it is a tenth language she is devoting her life to: South African Sign Language (SASL).

With nearly ten years’ experience as a SASL interpreter in several settings – ranging from the medical and mental-health fields to that of conferences and Deafblind interpreting – Lerato is living her life’s purpose. “I regard myself as a member of the Deaf community and a servant at the same time.”

Lerato lives by the principle that the more perspectives she gains on the world, the better service as an interpreter she can provide. This is also part of the reason why Lerato decided to take on the role of student again to study BA Language Practice to provide her with an even broader perspective on the field.

But why does Lerato feel so strongly about SASL? It is only through Sign Language, Lerato explains, that one can bridge the divide between the world of the hearing and that of the Deaf. “SASL is the only way for the minority Deaf group to receive and transfer information,” Lerato emphasises. “Deaf people cannot communicate in any other way.” Now, consider for a moment the plight of a Deaf child in South Africa. To receive education in SASL, most Deaf children have to move far away from home at a very young age in order to attend a school for the Deaf. For many years, schools for the Deaf did not include other languages as subjects, which prevented Deaf school-leavers from entering higher education. Although this situation has largely changed, Deaf students are still fighting an uphill battle when entering higher education institutions where prejudice and ignorance still persist. This is where the work of the Centre for Universal Access and Disability Support (CUADS) and the Department of South African Sign Language (SASL) and Deaf Studies makes such a crucial difference.

“I firmly believe,” Lerato says, “that only Sign Language can open opportunities for all groups of the Deaf community – from Deaf children to adults, and from the uneducated to the most educated Deaf people.” It is for this reason, Lerato argues, that our constitution needs to recognise SASL in order to give Deaf people full and equal access to information, to education, and ultimately, to all the opportunities South Africa has to offer.

News Archive

UFS Vista campus elects SRC

2005-08-25

Front from left:Ms Mpule Rabele, Finance; Mr Julius Kompi, President; Ms Buyiswa Nyotho, Vice-President; Back from left: Mr Tshepo Mohotsi, Academics and Transformation; Mr Shimane Mokwena, Sport, Arts and Culture ; Mr Maje Mokhutle, Projects and Community Liaison; Mr Teboho Mtimkulu, Secretary-General; Mr Andile Tyobeka, Constitutional and Legal Affairs;

Mr Julius Kompi, a senior LLB-student, has been named as the president of the Student Representative Council (SRC) at the Vista Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS) in Bloemfontein.

The election of a SRC for the Vista Campus of the UFS for the term 2005/2006 was completed earlier this week.

After the main campus, the Vista campus is the second of the UFS three campuses to have completed its SRC election process. Students at the Qwaqwa campus of the UFS will elect a SRC on Friday 26 August 2005.

“The Main Campus SRC and the Vista Campus SRC elections were a resounding success and were conducted in a peaceful manner. We are positive that this tendency will continue in future,” said Dr Ezekiel Moraka, Vice-Rector: Student Affairs at the UFS.

According to Dr Moraka the election process on the Vista Campus was closely monitored by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). More than 50% of the students on campus took part in the election.

A central SRC that represents the three campus SRCs of the UFS was inaugurated earlier this month. The officials of the Central SRC will be chosen after all three campuses have elected a new SRC.

Media release
Issued by:  Lacea Loader
   Media Representative
   Tel: (051) 401-2584
   Cell: 083 645 2454
   E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za

25 August 2005

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