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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

Four Kovsies play in the Chile/Belgium series

2015-02-10

Nicole Walraven, Lethabo Maebana (SRC: Media and Marketing), Tanya Britz, Kerry-beth Berry (SRC: Day- and Commuting Students), Cornelle Botha, Liné Malan, and Dominique De Gouveia (SRC: Sport)

Tanya Britz, Nicole Walraven, Cormelle Botha, and Liné Malan turned out for the Protea hockey team in the two series against Chile and Belgium in Cape Town from 22 January to 2 February.

Britz has been playing for the senior Protea team since her matric year at Sentraal High School, but for Walraven, Botha, and Malan this series marked their debut for the senior national hockey team. The series against Chile and Belgium both ended in draws for the Protea women’s team.

Shortly before the end of the series against Belgium, the three Kovsies making their debut for the senior national hockey team had the following to say to the Volksblad:

“It was unbelievably inspiring to stand next to these incredible players wearing the Green and Gold and to sing the national anthem in front of a home crowd. It was worth all the hard work and dedication. The support and acceptance of my team mates helped calm my nerves when the whistle blew. It was such an honour – it still feels like a dream. (Nicole Walraven)

“It is an indescribable feeling, something that I dreamt about for years. The nerves niggled before the game, but it was such a huge privilege and honour to play in the Protea colours.” (Cornelle Botha)

“It’s difficult to describe the feeling a person experiences when you sing the national anthem wearing the Green and Gold. It was a feeling of pride; the accompanying excitement felt as if I had a thousand butterflies in my stomach. It’s a moment I shall never forget and a dream come true.” (Liné Malan)

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