Reigning Miss SA, Mia Le Roux, has encouraged hearing people to learn sign language, saying it’s a powerful way to build connections and foster greater inclusivity.
She made the remarks at the Sign Language and Music Enhancement Mini Festival in Tshwane, hosted by the Gauteng Basic Education Department.
The event was aimed at making sign language more accessible to young people and promote inclusivity.
As the country’s first hearing-impaired title winner, Le Roux has spoken publicly about the challenges she’s faced due to her hearing disability.
She’s had to go the extra mile to be understood and hopes that through her advocacy and education, deaf children can be placed on equal footing.
The provincial education department has already introduced Basic South African Sign Language to children from Grade 5.
Le Roux emphasised that teaching hearing kids sign language can help create a more integrated society and bridge the communication gap.
With over four million people in South Africa’s deaf community, it’s an important issue.
Last year, the government recognised South African Sign Language as the country’s 12th official language, aiming to improve access to education, public services, and social opportunities for deaf people.
Parents of young deaf children say having a deaf Miss SA has encouraged their children to dream big.
They believe that if more South Africans learned sign language, their children would feel less isolated.
As the country marks Deaf Awareness Month this September, Grade 5 learners are excited about the benefits of learning sign language.
They say it has helped them make new friends and opened up a whole new world.
Thousands of hearing pupils are currently learning sign language in local schools, broadening their thinking and connecting them with others in new ways.
Gauteng Education MEC, Matome Chiloane, hopes to see sign language taught in classrooms across the province soon.
He believes that by integrating deaf children into society, they can become empowered advocates for their community.
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