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SASL Star: Peet Jacobs

22 September 2021 | Story Michelle Nöthling | Photo Supplied

Peet Jacobs is no stranger to the Deaf community in and around the UFS and Bloemfontein. He has been working at the University of the Free State (UFS) for the past six years, and he is still amazed at the amount of support our institution provides to Deaf students in particular, and to South African Sign Language (SASL) in general. “They provide excellent interpreting services,” Peet says, “not only in face-to-face classes, but also on different online platforms, as well as interpreting pre-recorded lectures and videos.” And as a SASL interpreter, Peet is an integral part of this service.

But signing is not merely a day job for Peet. He carries his skill into the community in his spare time, where he assists as an interpreter at hospitals, doctors’ rooms, and psychiatrists’ offices – to name but a few. What gives Peet the deepest satisfaction, however, is when he can combine his love of Sign Language with his love of the Bible and his God. It was actually Peet’s devotion to his religion that inspired him to learn Sign Language in order to enable him to carry the Word of God into the Deaf community. Peet now also presents Bible courses in SASL and assists a non-profit organisation to produce SASL Bible-based publications, which are translated and recorded in video format.

Peet aspires to become an authority on SASL subject-specific vocabulary related to subject in higher education. “Sign Language is a language in its own right,” Peet points out. “The uniqueness of Deaf culture and the variety of dialects within SASL give the language diversity and colour.” Peet goes on to emphasise how important it is that SASL is recognised as an official language in our country. “This recognition will give dignity to a group of people who have been marginalised in South Africa. This will also pave the way to providing more inclusivity and service to the Deaf community.”

Until then, Peet will continue to serve the best way he knows how: through signing.

News Archive

Goodbye SIFE, hello Enactus

2013-05-01

The Kovsies Enactus team
24 May 2013
Photo: Linda Fekisi

The Students in Free Enterprise, better known as SIFE, has changed its brand name to Enactus. This global rebranding took place late last year. It forms part of an attempt to increase the organisation’s level of reach and impact. It reflects that entrepreneurial action is not something that is relevant to a single culture or nationality.

The organisation is still in essence one which assists university students to create community empowerment projects. The Kovsies Enactus team has 53 active members on the Bloemfontein Campus.

“We encourage student development through Enactus. It is a great platform for students. There is a combination of ideas, expertise and diversity from different faculties,” says the Vice-Chairperson of internal affairs, Mirriam Matsoaboli.

Enactus is currently working on three major projects: Local Economic Development (LED) and Edcon, Shifting Focus, and an environmental project. LED works with 19 established businesses which are struggling to make a profit while Edcon deals with three designers in textile and clothes making. Shifting Focus forms part of the educational division. It focuses on instilling entrepreneurial skills in high school learners. The Enactus team serves as a mentoring structure and advises them. The environmental project is in its infant stage, with. Enactus working on recycling bottles and paper, especially old study guides on campus.

“Having a branch on the QwaQwa campus has also been one of our objectives. We are still in the process of establishing one,” adds Mirriam.

The Enactus team is currently preparing for the national competitions which will take place later in Sandton on 10 and 11 July.

Students tell us about your association and we will profile it on our Kovsielife page. Contact Amanda Tongha at tonghaa@ufs.ac.za

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