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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

Kesa, UFS cross-country teams shine at USSA
2016-10-24

Description: ’Manapo UFS cross-country    Tags: UFS cross-country

The Kovsies 8 km women’s team
was crowned as champions at
the USSA cross-country meeting
in Richards Bay. From the left are
Marne Mentz, Lizandre Mulder,
and Kesa Molotsane.
Photo: Sarina Cronje

The University of the Free State (UFS) not only boasts a South African women’s cross-country champion, one of its women’s teams is also the best university team in the country.
The Kovsies 8 km women’s team was crowned the winners at the University Sports SA cross-country event in Richards Bay, while the 10 km men’s team finished second.

Kovsies men take second place

The women’s team consisted of Kesa Molotsane, Marne Mentz, and Lizandre Mulder. They respectively came in first, third and fifth at the USSA meeting held at the University of Zululand on 30 September and 1 October 2016. In the women’s competition, the times of the first three competitors are used to determine the team placements.

The UFS 4 km women’s team finished in 5th place.

The successful UFS 10 km men’s team consisted of four members from the Qwaqwa Campus – Lesedi Radebe (4th), Lebohang Miya (8th), Moorosi Semase (10th), and Lindobuhle Miya (11th). In the men’s competition, the times of the first four men in each team are taken into account.

The Kovsies 4 km men’s team finished sixth.

Molotsane’s dream year continues

Molotsane, assistant officer at KovsieSport, is experiencing a dream year. On 10 September 2016 she was crowned as national cross-country champion over 10 km when she represented the Free State in George. Mentz was third in George over 4 km.

Molotsane improved her own record in the 3 000 m at the Clover athletics meeting in Bloemfontein on 15 October 2016. Her time of 09:51.03 was much better than her previous record time of 10:03.97.

In the USSA road relay in Richards Bay on 1 October 2016, the Kovsies women’s team finished third in the 3 x 2 km relay. The men came fifth in the 4 x 4 km relay.

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