Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items

SASL Star: Simoné du Preez

22 September 2021 | Story Michelle Nöthling | Photo Supplied

“A community needs a culture, and a culture needs a language.” Pause a moment and consider these words of Simoné du Preez.

How do we express our beliefs, values, customs, and norms, if not through language? The same is true for the Deaf – who are a minority cultural group in its own right. “Sign Language is the language in which the Deaf community laughs, cries, learns, and loves,” Simoné, a South African Sign Language (SASL) interpreter at the University of the Free State (UFS), points out. “Without it, no expression – and no cultural expression – can take place.”

Simoné’s passion for SASL was ignited while studying BA Language Practice at the UFS. Taking SASL as a main subject, she fell in love with the language, the culture, the history, and its people. Simoné then went on to do her honour’s degree in Language Practice, with specialisation in SASL Interpreting, and she never looked back. During her seven years as an interpreter at the UFS, Simoné still feels humbled by the student community she serves. “I get to learn so much from students from every walk of life, studying anything from Education to the Arts to Actuarial Sciences.” She enjoys seeing what Deaf students are capable of and is also “proud to be a part of their success stories.”

She not only has a soft spot for our students, but also for the Department of SASL and Deaf Studies that has helped shape her into the interpreter she is today. Simoné adds that she loves working with the Centre for Universal Access and Disability Support (CUADS). “It’s amazing to see what lengths Martie Miranda and her team are willing to go through in order to achieve equity and equality for our students with disabilities. I am humbled and honoured to be able to play a small role in their big plan.”

Always pushing herself to improve, Simoné has now set herself the goal of becoming a SASL interpreter accredited by the South African Translators’ Institute (SATI). It is immensely important for Simoné that the Deaf community has access to all information at all times – equal to that of a hearing person. The recognition of SASL as an official language in South Africa is vital to actualising this. Simoné underscores the fact that without this recognition, the Deaf are being silenced. “Their voices are just as important as every other person’s. It is time that we listen to what the Deaf community has to say.”

News Archive

UFS Centenary 2004/05 : October snippets

2004-10-06

CENTENARY CONFERENCE
The proposed Centenary Conference on Democracy, Diversity and Development : Towards a mature and robust society – A critical discourse, refers. Unfortunately many invited contributors are unable to attend on the proposed dates (12 to 15 October 2004) prompting the UFS management to reconsider the timing of the conference. The UFS management has therefore decided to postpone this conference until an appropriate time in 2005.

As a result of this postponement the SAUVCA activities will also no longer be part of the October programme in Bloemfontein.

CENTENARY COMPLEX
The rehabilitation of the existing Reitz Hall and adjoining residence into the Centenary Complex is almost complete.

The inauguration of the complex – Reitz Hall and DF Malherbe House – will take place on Tuesday, the 12th of October 2004. A special open day from 11:00 until 16:00 is planned to enable all staff and students to visit this prestige complex. More detail will be available early October 2004.

FILM PREMIERE
The premiere of an UFS commissioned documentary, as part of its Centenary celebrations, on the remarkable leadership, reconciliatory and nation-building role of King Moshoeshoe, the Basotho leader of the nineteenth century, will take place on Wednesday, the 13th of October 2004. The director of this commissioned documentary is the well-known Max du Preez. Although this event is open to invited guests only, the documentary will also be screened by the SABC later this year. It will also be screened at several other occasions to enable staff and students to experience and discuss this film.

With this film and other projects the University of the Free State wishes to celebrate the legacy of this extraordinary African leader for the Free State and for South Africa.

CENTENARY HONORARY DOCTORATE GRADUATION CEREMONY
A special Honorary Doctorate Graduation Ceremony will take place on the 14th of October 2004 at 19:00 in front of the Main Building on the UFS campus. Twelve honorary doctorate degrees will be awarded to a diverse group of outstanding South Africans and international scholars. The Rector requests the attendance of all staff and students in large numbers during this prestige event.

The following candidates will receive an honorary doctorate degree: Me Antjie Krog, Prof Jakes Gerwel, Mr Karel Schoeman, Dr Frederick van Zyl Slabbert, Prof Saleem Badat, Dr Khotso Mokhele, Prof Robert Bringle, Prof Leo Quayle, Prof Jack de Wet, Prof Kerneels Nel (posthumous), Prof Boelie Wessels en Prof Jaap Steyn .

Back

Economic and Management Sciences

Education

Health Sciences

The Humanities

Law

Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Theology and Religion

Open Distance Learning

Business School

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept