Getting to know the Deaf Community

According to the third Pledge of the South African Sign Language (SASL) Charter produced by the PanSALB (Pan South African Language Board), there should be a promotion of learning and high-quality teaching of South African Sign Language, wherein the right to have access to learn and the use of SASL is not a privilege or luxury, but a basic human right for all.

One individual who is contributing to creating a society where SASL is advanced, promoted, maintained, and regularly used in all aspects of Deaf persons’ life in South Africa is Clara Nkuna. She hails from Mayephu Village under Chief Dzumeri in Giyani, the Mopani District, where she began her primary school therein before proceeding to Ndhambi High School located in Mzilela Village to complete her matriculation.

Clara initially intended to pursue a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) Degree in Economics at the University of Limpopo (UL) but failed to secure admission. Consequently, she took two gap years (2011 and 2012) until she finally enrolled at UL to study towards a Bachelor of Arts in Languages which she completed in 2015, record time. It was during her final year where she developed the interest to learn about sign language, and so she conducted a thorough research on how to go about it.

“One of my neighbors who was a teacher at Setotolwane Special School informed me about an NGO in Polokwane that caters to Deaf persons and advised me to go there and learn basic sign language,” explained Nkuna. “When I got there, the school sold me a DVD which helped me practice more at home”, continued Clara. To improve her signing skills and become an advanced Sign Language Interpreter, the 31-year-old frequented the Deaf South Africa Limpopo (DeafSA – LP) federation offices to socialize and be familiar with the Deaf community.