Language

South African Sign Language

South African Sign Language (SASL) is used in South Africa.

SASL has been recognized by the constitution and some of the legislations and policy documents in South Africa as a language used by Deaf people, DeafSA is currently in the process to make SASL the 12th Official language of South Africa by following the requirements in order to make the necessary amendments to the Constitution of South Africa.

South African Sign Language is registered at the South African Qualification Authority as an additional language for persons to acquire an additional language; DeafSA is currently working with the Standard Generating Body to register South African Sign Language for First Language users.

South African Sign Language Interpreting

DeafSA’s was funded to conduct a training course for SASL Interpreters. The training of SASL interpreters was organized in close collaboration with the University of South Africa (UNISA) in the development of unit standards in order to register the course on a National Qualification Framework level 5, equivalent to tertiary qualification.

On 28 January 2006 UNISA celebrated - the first intake of students for the one-year programme in South African sign Language Interpreting received their certificates at a special ceremony. Only 18 students out of the original 33 students passed this challenging course.

Accreditation

DeafSA and SATI (South African translation institute) introduced an accreditation system for SASL interpreters on the 23 January 2004 to improve the standing of SASL Interpreters in the community and to ensure that the clients receive a certain level of competence in the SASL Interpreters they employ. Several accreditation sessions was held in both directions, from SASL to English and English to SASL.