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Renata van Reenen: ‘Being Deaf is my identity and culture’

23 September 2022 | Story Rulanzen Martin | Photo Rulanzen Martin

Renata van Reenen, a master’s student at the University of the Free State (UFS), recalls how a school talk in 1998 by Deaf activist Johan Gouws instilled in her a kind of ‘duty’ to become a champion for Deaf people. Van Reenen, who in 1987 became the first Deaf child in South Africa to receive a cochlear implant, says it was at this talk that she realised that, as a Deaf person, she has her own language, identity, and culture – and that she is not “a person with a disability”.

Van Reenen is currently a language facilitator in the UFS Department of South African Sign Language (SASL) and Deaf Studies, and she believes that Deaf students should be empowered to embrace their attributes. Her interests include exploring different sign languages around the world, Deaf issues, and how Deaf children are supported in schools for the Deaf. “One of my hobbies is to put my creative ideas on paper, and I would like to develop and record these stories in SASL so they can be accessible to Deaf schools as resource materials,” she says. “These materials would then also be accessible when teaching the subject South African Sign Language as a Home Language.”

Van Reenen, who worked as an assistant teacher at a school for the Deaf for seven years, is passionate about SASL and the lived experiences of the Deaf. We asked her to share some views on empowering the Deaf and SASL:

Why is it important to empower Deaf students?

When I was 17, I had no Deaf identity. I did not understand sign language and how it was used – when the Deaf person gave a speech at the school, it changed my life. I realised that I am a Deaf person with my own language, identity, and culture, and that I am not a person with a disability. I strongly believe that Deaf students need to be empowered to fully embrace their identity, language, and culture, and through this expectance show the world who we are. My favourite motto I always share with my Deaf learners is: “Believe in yourself, show them what you can do.” I also encourage them to continuously teach Hearing students the beautiful language, as the famous Deaf quote states: “Sign language is the noblest gift God has given to Deaf people.” George Veditz, the former president of the National Association of the Deaf of the United States, said, “As long as we have Deaf people on Earth, we will have signs.” He protected our language at a time (the early 20th century) when the world strongly believed that Deaf people had to learn through oralism and had to learn spoken language in order to function as a “normal person” alongside hearing people.

As a Deaf person, do you believe the UFS community is doing enough to accommodate you, and how do you feel about being part of the Department of SASL and Deaf Studies?

When I received a link for a workshop I had to attend, I was so overwhelmed when I saw the interpreter on the video link, and knew that it would be extremely helpful for me during my research. The UFS Centre for Universal Access and Disability Support made sure I have full access to any workshops the university provides. It is amazing that my supervisor can also sign. That made me feel at home, being in a Deaf world without communication barriers. The department is an amazing team that supports and encourages me during my studies.

What will you be doing in honour of Deaf Awareness Month?

The SASL Department and I, along with Deaf Studies, have organised a “Signing Space” event in September to bring Deaf and Hearing students together to socialise with each other. This event will give Hearing students the opportunity to learn about the Deaf world. During this event I will give a small presentation such as “Poetry in SASL” that will show that Deaf people have their own literature, and that it forms part of their language, SASL. We will not only focus on presentations but also on fun activities, such as games that are prominent within the Deaf community.

Why did you decide to pursue your MA at the UFS?

During the coronavirus pandemic I applied to the University of Gallaudet in Washington, DC to study for a Master of Education in Sign Language degree. Gallaudet is the world's only university in which all programmes and services are specifically designed to accommodate deaf and hard of hearing students. I was accepted to study further and to ultimately become a teacher or lecturer. My aim was to train Deaf adults to qualify in different areas of SASL, ranging from SASL Linguistics, SASL Pedagogy, SASL Media Production, and so forth. In an ideal world these could be offered as short courses through some tertiary institutions which already offer SASL on undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Unfortunately, I did not have enough support, but I did not let it stop my dream. I decided to change my university of choice and applied at the University of the Free State. I am pursuing my MA degree and continuing my studies as a Deaf person. The University of the Free State is providing and recognising SASL. This is a positive step, as South African Sign Language will soon be the twelfth official language of South Africa.

News Archive

UFS research sheds light on service delivery protests in South Africa

2015-01-23

UFS research sheds light on service delivery protests in South Africa

Service delivery protests in the country have peaked during 2014, with 176 major service delivery protests staged against local government across South Africa.

A study by the University of the Free State (UFS) found that many of these protests are led by individuals who previously held key positions within the ANC and prominent community leaders. Many of these protests involved violence, and the destruction had a devastating impact on the communities involved.

This study was done by Dr Sethulego Matebesi, researcher and senior lecturer at the UFS. He focused his research on the dynamics of service delivery protests in South Africa.

Service delivery protests refer to the collective taken by a group of community members which are directed against a local municipality over poor or inadequate provision of basic services, and a wider spectrum of concerns including, for example, housing, infrastructural developments, and corruption.

These protests increased substantially from about 10 in 2004 to 111 in 2010, reaching unprecedented levels with 176 during 2014.

The causes of these protests are divided into three broad categories: systemic (maladministration, fraud, nepotism and corruption); structural (healthcare, poverty, unemployment and land issues); and governance (limited opportunities for civic participation, lack of accountability, weak leadership and the erosion of public confidence in leadership).

In his research, Dr Matebesi observed and studied protests in the Free State, Northern Cape and the North-West since 2008. He found that these protests can be divided into two groups, each with its own characteristics.

“On the one side you have highly fragmented residents’ groups that often use intimidation and violence in predominantly black communities. On the other side, there are highly structured ratepayers’ associations that primarily uses the withholding of municipal rates and taxes in predominantly white communities.”

Who are the typical protesters?

Dr Matebesi’s study results show that in most instances, protests in black areas are led by individuals who previously held key positions within the ANC - prominent community leaders. Generally, though, protests are supported by predominantly unemployed, young residents.

“However, judging by election results immediately after protests, the study revealed that the ANC is not losing votes over such actions.”

The study found that in the case of the structured ratepayers’ associations, the groups are led by different segments of the community, including professionals such as attorneys, accountants and even former municipal managers.

Dr Matebesi says that although many protests in black communities often turned out violent, protest leaders stated that they never planned to embark on violent protests.

“They claimed that is was often attitude (towards the protesters), reaction of the police and the lack of government’s interest in their grievances that sparked violence.”

Totally different to this is the form of peaceful protests that involves sanctioning. This requires restraint and coordination, which only a highly structured group can provide.

“The study demonstrates that the effects of service delivery protests have been tangible and visible in South Africa, with almost daily reports of violent confrontations with police, extensive damage to property, looting of businesses, and at times, the injuring or even killing of civilians. With the increase of violence, the space for building trust between the state and civil society is decreasing.”

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