LIMPOPO – There is a big need for interpreters in the country, specifically in the Mopani district.

This is the sentiment of Tebatso Rasemana from Khujwana village who is a teacher’s assistant at Yingisani Special School for the Deaf in Nkowankowa.

The 24-year-old, a youth representative for Deaf SÁ Limpopo, says many deaf people are not heard, not well represented and not treated well at organisations such as hospitals, courts and even municipalities.

“It is a daily struggle to get assistance and to communicate with personnel at these institutions. To get assistance, you have to be accompanied by a sign language interpreter.”

He says government positions often come with a footnote of “people with disability are encouraged to apply”.

“I have come to realise that at most organisations, including our local municipalities, disability refers to physically disabled people, they do not include deaf people. I once tried to engage the Greater Tzaneen Municipality’s disability desk but did not get far, they said there is no interpreter. I recommend that disability desks must include the needs of the deaf community. I have never seen our municipality hosting an event with a sign language interpreter unless it is hosted by the Premier or the Presidency.”

Tebatso was born with hearing but at four years old he became completely deaf and mute. He told the Herald that his life took a turn for the better when he learned about Yingisani where he started in Gr RR at the age of 5 and attended until Gr 7.

He says the school gave him a sense of belonging because he made friends with people like him.

He finished high school at Filadelfia Special School in Gauteng, which he praises for equipping him with life skills.

He encourages parents to enrol their children with hearing disabilities to schools such as Yinhisani and not keep them at home.

Ntombentle Huluhulu, of the Pan South Africa Language Board, says that her organisation has developed a sign language charter to implement sign language as the twelfth official South African language, which government need to follow. “Although there has not been much implemented, but there is progress with the officialisation of sign language as the 12th official South African Language. Huluhulu, agrees that government needs to hire a lot of qualified interpreters in the departments in order to accommodate the deaf community,”she said.

Xiluva Rikhotso, a local audiologist and speech therapist, says there are many reasons for hearing children to become deaf, such as tragic accidents and bacterial meningitis.

For more information on deaf matters, contact Deaf SA Limpopo at 015 291 5248. For an audiologist or speech therapist, contact Xiluva at 071 566 6841 or email rikhotsoaudilogy@gmail.com.