Languages: 
WALTER SISULU UNIVERSITY TRANSFORMATION AND LANGUAGE DIRECTORATE CELEBRATES “DEAF AWARENESS MONTH”
The World Federation of the Deaf declared September a Deaf Awareness Month to raise positive aspects of deafness that included the South African Sign Language(SASL )STE
Walter Sisulu University, through the establishment of the Transformation and Language Directorate, supports and recognises all persons with disability and strives to treat everyone in an ethical, inclusive and equitable manner.
The signing of the South African Sign Language (SASL) Bill on, 19 July 2023, was an exciting milestone to the Deaf community and all South Africans. The Bill declared South African Sign Language the newest addition to the county’s 11official languages.
The Deaf community in South Africa have been advocating for the recognition of SALS as an official language for over 25-years.
The achievement of, 19 July, was an historic breakpoint for the Deaf community and South Africa at large. South Africa joins other African countries like Kenya and Zimbabwe in acknowledging Sign Language as an official language.
Walter Sisulu University supports this progressive step towards embracing the deaf community.
The Transformation and Language Directorate, through the Inclusion, Equity and Diversity Unit aims to change the trajectory of exclusion of Deaf academic staff and students in teaching and learning .. The Transformation and language directorate is working on making sure that Walter Sisulu University is a preferred university for students with hearing impediments. Several activities have been planned by the Directorate for the month of September to sensitise WSU staff and students on the principles of Deaf Awareness Month.
The Transformation and Language Directorate was established in, April 2023, through the appointment of a director and three managers in Transformation, Languages and Disability. The Transformation and Language Directorate have put in place a departmental operational plan to make sure that the Transformation agenda within the WSU is adhered to.
TRANSFORMATION AND LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT VISION: :
Develop and establish Digital-Oriented Transformation agenda that celebrate cultural diversity, equity, and inclusivity in the context of an African University.
TRANSFORMATION AND LANGUAGE MISSION
We serve as a change agent to transform institutional culture, teaching and learning, research, community engagement and policies through robust review and revision that is underpinned by the Walter Sisulu Strategic document, Transformation Policy and the Institutional Transformation Plan. We serve WSU (Walter Sisulu University) staff and students and the broader WSU community through our commitment to:
- Transform institutional culture, curriculum, and processes through digitisation and amalgamation of all knowledges and languages, embracing the diversity, equity, and inclusivity of all group;
- Increase access, equity, and inclusion through transformation of structures, policies, and practices within the university;
- Strive to achieve the development of graduates who celebrate the transformation agenda for a lifetime.
Contact Us
Dr. Marinkie Madiope: Director – Transformation and Language Unit
Cell: 066 044 2528
Email:
Mr Lulamile Mbongo
Manager : Transformation
Cell: 0663018551
Email:
Mr Sinoyolo Nokutywa
Manager : Languages
Cell: 067 426 1799
Email:
Ms Zanele Nomatshila
Manager : Disability
Cell: 0933381838
Email:
Physical Address
Address: 13A Tyrell Rd
East London
Email:
(Image: iStockphoto)
