Mpumalanga sign language interpreters finally receive payments, almost a year after of rendering services to the Office of the Status of Disabled Persons
One of the interpreters said he feels that people will now begin to take their career as seriously as they do others.
Last week this publication reported on two sign language interpreters who had delivered services to the Office of the Status of Disabled Persons (OSDP) in 2024 without receiving their payments.
Eddie Tsubella and Nikiwe Jennifer Matsebula interpreted during two separate events on April 24 – the unveiling of Bethal Hospital and a labour activation programme at Emnotweni Arena respectively.
Following the article published on February 26, Tsubella and Matsebula have finally been paid what was due to them. They both received their payments on February 27.
Matsebula had explained that this issue had affected her financial well-being, as interpreters are paid after each job.
“It affected me negatively because we get paid by work, meaning no work, no pay. It was really unfair that I took time to render a service, but was not paid what was due to me,” she said.
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Additionally, Tsubella revealed that upon initially enquiring about his payment, he was referred to several different people. One of them promised him that his payment had been processed, yet he received nothing.
After receiving her payment, Matsebula said: “I am thankful for the help I received. After a year of trying to get my money, this publication managed to resolve the issue with one enquiry. I am so grateful. I hope those who gave encountered the same problem get assistance like I did.”
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Tsubella added: “I was very happy to get what was owed to me. It is fascinating to see that although we may be taken lightly as sign language interpreters, the media is taken quite seriously. In less than a week after the story was in the paper, we got paid.”
Tsubella said going forward he believes people will begin to treat sign language interpreting with as much respect as they do other careers.
“To avoid such issues in the future, I think the OSDP can issue an order number to the interpreter who has rendered a service to show your payment has been taken into consideration,” he said.
