#InternationalWeekOfDeafPeople: Hearing-impaired people gather to raise awareness about GBV

To commemorate International Week of Deaf People, members of the hearing-impaired community gathered at Marks Park Sports Club in Emmarentia on September 17.

According to a released statement by the City of Joburg, The International Week of Deaf People runs from September 19 to 25 and is commemorated annually to draw the attention of the public, government and business leaders to issues affecting the deaf community.

Chairperson of the Neema Foundation for the Deaf, Cebisile Ndebele said, “Our plea to the authorities is to act swiftly and ensure that there are SA Sign Language services available at key service points such as police stations, clinics and hospitals. Many incidents go unreported and we are worried this may lead to the normalisation of GBV in the deaf community.”

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MMC for Health and Social Development Councillor Ashley Sauls said, “I want you to understand that we genuinely care about the deaf community. This should be a message to all of you that today as I walk with you on this 5km, I want you to know that it is the start of my committing, to the department and as the MMC for Social Development. It is the beginning of a long walk together based on your needs and what you deserve.”

According to the CEO of eDeaf, Ms Nazereen Bhana, 80% of people in the deaf community cannot access services from the government.

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“There is hardly an interpreter who can be a voice for you to be heard and understood when you go to places like the police station or other government facilities. This is discouraging and very frustrating for us as the deaf community.

“We have students that get abused at schools and student facilities because they hardly hear a word,” said Bhana.

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