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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

Free State Arts Festival and the Department of Afrikaans and Dutch, German and French (UFS) launches first crossword tournament in SA

2016-06-14

History will be made at the Free State Arts Festival, which will this year be held in Bloemfontein from 11 to 16 July. For the first time ever in South Africa, a Crossword Tournament will be presented for the public, where Afrikaans word and language lovers can test their knowledge and speed against other competitors.

With the help of the Department of Afrikaans and Dutch, German and French, as well as Xword, the RSG Crossword Tournament will be presented on the university’s campus. In several knockout rounds on Friday 15 July, contestants will have to complete three different types of crosswords compiled by the experienced crossword team at XWord. Points will be awarded according to a formula measuring accuracy and speed. The top ten contestants will go through to a semi-final on Saturday 16 July, after which three finalists will be selected to compete against each other in the Grand Finale.

Apart from the coveted title, DIE RSG BLOKRAAIKAMPIOEN, prizes which are up for grabs include a year’s access to the news platforms of Netwerk24 for all three finalists, a variety of dictionaries from Pharos and Longman-HAT, a wide range of crossword books published by LAPA, and many more.

Interested persons can find more information about the RSG Crossword Tournament at www.xword.co.za. Links are also provided to free crosswords which can be printed to practice ahead of the tournament. Interested people are requested to send their names, cellphone numbers, and Email addresses to Albe Grobbelaar at XWord in advance in order to facilitate the planning for the expected number of participants. The address is albegrobbelaar@gmail.com

The cost for participants is R50, which is payable on the day of the elimination rounds at the venue on campus, South Block 1. The entrance fee includes a copy of XWord’s popular book, AfriBlokkies Blokkiesraaisels.

(Further inquiries: Albe Grobbelaar – 082 447 1900)

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