In July 2023 South Africa amended its Constitution to recognise South African Sign Language (SASL) as the country’s 12th official language. For the Deaf community it was the result of decades of advocacy. For organisations that serve the public, it is a clear signal: communicating with Deaf people in their own language is no longer a nice-to-have.
Why official status matters
Official recognition places SASL alongside isiZulu, English, Afrikaans and the country’s other official languages. It strengthens the expectation that public bodies – and the private organisations that serve the public – make reasonable efforts to communicate in SASL, rather than relying on written notes, lip-reading or a family member to “help out”.
Those workarounds often fail. Written English is a second language for many Deaf South Africans, lip-reading captures only part of a conversation, and asking a child or relative to interpret a bank, medical or legal conversation compromises privacy and accuracy.
What it means in practice
- Service counters should be able to offer a qualified SASL interpreter when a Deaf customer arrives – not in three days’ time.
- Contact centres need a route for Deaf callers, such as video interpreting, rather than voice-only lines.
- Digital channels should include captions and, where possible, SASL video for important information.
- Policies and training should explain to staff how to request an interpreter and how to work with one.
Five steps to get ready
- Map your touchpoints. List every place a customer, patient or citizen interacts with you: branches, reception desks, call centres, apps and events.
- Choose an interpreting model. On-demand video remote interpreting covers most day-to-day interactions; on-site interpreters still make sense for long or complex events.
- Protect privacy. Interpreted conversations often include personal and financial information. Make sure your provider is POPIA-aware and that interpreters are bound by confidentiality.
- Train your people. A five-minute Deaf-awareness briefing – look at the Deaf person, not the interpreter; speak naturally – makes a big difference.
- Measure and report. Track how often interpreting is requested and how quickly it is delivered, so you can show progress on your inclusion commitments.
The opportunity
Deaf South Africans bank, pay tax, visit doctors, study and shop like everyone else. Organisations that make those experiences accessible earn loyalty, reduce complaints and repeat visits, and demonstrate real commitment to transformation.
SignBridge SA helps organisations put a qualified SASL interpreter at every service point in seconds. Book a tailored demo to see how it works in your environment.
