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22 September 2021 | Story Michelle Nöthling | Photo Supplied
Peet Jacobs.

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

Kovsie Face of Facebook – the search is on
2014-04-07

 
Victor Ngubeni, our first Face of Facebook winner, 2013/2014

Our sensational Kovsie Face of Facebook competition is about to launch into its second year.

This is a golden opportunity for students who want to be a regular in front of the camera. As the winner, you will present videos for our UFS Facebook and YouTube pages.

How to enter
You need to complete an entry form, which you can download from [KovsieLife] or [Blackboard]. You can also pick up an entry form at the reception desk in the Student Life Centre (SRC Building).

Submit your completed entry form at the reception desk mentioned above before 10:00 on Friday 11 April 2014.

Auditions
You will need to tell us in a minute, on video, why you should be our next Face of Facebook. Dress creatively, bring along props or posters and let your personality shine through.

The details for the auditions are:

  • Date: Tuesday 15 April 2014
  • Time: 08:30 – 13:00 and 14:00 – 16:30
  • Place: Bloemfontein Campus, North Block (of the Main Building), ground floor

Voting
The top ten videos will be loaded onto our UFS Facebook page. The public can then vote for their favourite by ‘liking’ the video. Remember, only those who have ‘liked’ the UFS Facebook page will be able to vote.

After voting ends, the person with the most ‘likes’ will be the winner and serve as our 2014/15 Face of Facebook.

Now, get those entries in!

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