The Sol Plaatje University (SPU) in Kimberley is the first and only university in South Africa to hold a New Generation of Academics Programme post in South African Sign Language, as confirmed by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET).

The post will be filled by Hazel Sivell, who joins SPU on 1 July. Her appointment strengthens the University’s growing work in language, access and inclusion, and adds academic capacity in an area of national importance.

The New Generation of Academics Programme is a DHET initiative that supports the development of a new generation of academics at South African universities.

For SPU, the appointment builds specialised capacity in South African Sign Language, now an official South African language, and deepens the University’s language offering.

Returning to familiar ground

Sivell returns to familiar ground. She taught sign language at SPU for almost four years before joining Interpreting Services at the University of the Free State (UFS), and is now registered for a PhD at UFS with a focus on interpreting.

During her time at SPU, she taught Conversational Sign Language in both the Faculty of Humanities and the Faculty of Education, so her return brings together academic experience, interpreting practice and direct knowledge of SPU’s existing South African Sign Language offering.

Expanding language programmes

SPU currently offers Conversational Sign Language modules in the Humanities and Education faculties, along with short courses in South African Sign Language at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. Further developments are planned, including a Higher Certificate in South African Sign Language expected in 2027, South African Sign Language within the new Bachelor of Arts in Applied Language Studies, and, in future, a diploma or certificate in sign language interpreting and postgraduate programmes in sign language.

The appointment forms part of SPU’s broader effort to expand academic offerings that respond to societal needs, strengthen access and inclusion, and grow South Africa’s specialised language capacity.

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