Neema Foundation for the Deaf’s Executive Director, Fatima Cele, says more needs to be done to bridge the gap between the deaf community and the hearing.
The remarks come after award-winning musician, Ndivhudzannyi Ralivhona, popularly known as Makhadzi, was seen in an online video making “inaccurate and inappropriate” sign language gestures.
It was a snippet from her music video for the song, “Jealous Down”. In it, she appears to be playfully translating the words of a person in the video through sign language.
However, the deaf community found this disrespectful as the signs used were grammatically incorrect.
Makhadzi has since apologised for the incident, with the Neema Foundation for the Deaf extending an invitation for her and team to participate in a free deaf sensitisation and SA Sign Language (SASL) master class.
The organisation, which advocates for the rights and dignity of the deaf community, believes that the unfortunate incident presents an opportunity for growth and learning.
Speaking to YNews, Cele says educating society about the do’s and don’ts within the deaf community needs to be prioritised.
She believes it should be added to the school curriculum as an additional language.
The Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) is also calling for more to be done to encourage South Africans to learn more about sign language.
The board received a Linguistic Human Rights Violation complain submitted by members of the Deaf community against the award-winning musician.
STATEMENT | Following Linguistic Human Rights Violation complaints submitted by members of the Deaf community to PanSALB, and subsequent engagements with award-winning musician Ms Ndivhudzannyi Ralivhona “Makhadzi”, PanSALB has welcomed the public apology issued and appreciates… pic.twitter.com/IYwflpm5lF
— Pan South African Language Board (@PanSALB) September 13, 2024
Speaking to YNews, PanSALB’s Ntombenhle Huluhulu says learning sign language will assist in building an inclusive society is built.
Huluhulu says education and awareness campaigns to teach the public about the Deaf culture and what is seen as offensive behaviour are needed.
Social media users have also commented on the saga.
Makhadzi is always apologising for something controversial she did
— Brenda_wa ntšhi dikgolo (@VillagePriestes) September 16, 2024
😂😂😂😂 Makhadzi is always apologizing these days.with “I didn’t mean to hurt anyone”..
— LUNGI ..EC.. LUSIKISIKI 🇿🇦 (@LungiYou) September 15, 2024
Please announce people that we are very angry with artist Miss Makhadzi mocked our sign language. Please stop joke with sign language, remember our home language pic.twitter.com/Z5mEOFGWNQ
— Akhawula (@AKhawula) September 7, 2024
The controversy comes as South Africa observes Deaf Awareness Month, with the commemoration of the International Day of Sign Languages held on the 23rd of September every year.
The month is seen as an opportunity to support and protect the linguistic identity and cultural diversity of all deaf people.
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