The Deaf community in South Africa is filled with excitement after the National Assembly voted in support of the South African Sign Language (SASL) to be adopted as the 12th official language of the country.
Bruno Druchen, national director of DeafSA, says the National Assembly has adopted a bill that makes SASL an official language in terms of the constitution.
“A supporting vote of two thirds of MPs was needed to pass the bill,” said Druchen. “There were 306 votes in favour of the bill, no abstentions and no one voted against it.”
Jabaar Mohammed, Western Cape provincial director for DeafSA, was in attendance when political parties supported the proposal of SASL becoming an official language. “Thank you all for your support and it means a lot to our South African Deaf community. One more step for the president to sign then (it will be added) to the South African Constitution.”
