David Bar-Tzur
Flag: World flag database.
Map: Maps.com - "search" for country, then "Digital Map Graphics").
For a quick, interesting resource for facts about this and other countries,
try Mystic Planet - The New Age directory of Planet Earth.
Note: Flag next to a link shows what language the website is in. This is sometimes obvious by what country the link is for or the fact that the title is in English. If I feel it may be ambiguous, I have tried to clarify by using a flag. This is done so that people can read sites in the language of their choice.
(2003, July 17). ICASA calls for telecoms equipment for disabled. The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has called on inventors and suppliers of products that allow disabled people access to telecommunications equipment to apply to the regulator in order to approve the equipment.
Deaf rights in South Africa. Download article at this site. Requires Acrobat Reader.
DeafTODAY.
(2004, December 9). Our voice unheard, say deaf.South Africa's deaf community of over four million are not enjoying the fruits of democracy, with sign language not an official language and about 95% of deaf people illiterate.
(2004, December 9). Discrimination against us rife, says DeafSA. South Africa's deaf community is not enjoying the fruits of democracy, with about 95 percent of its four million members illiterate and sign language not among the official languages.
(2004, October 11). Silent struggle for sign language rights. Half a million South Africans use sign language as their first language - and that's more than those who speak Sotho and Venda. Yet, while Sotho and Venda are recognised as official languages, sign language is not. And that means that the deaf do not have access to society, and that sign language interpreters are not officially recognised.
(2004, March 26). Deaf people call for end to prejudice. Deaf people are as normal as hearing people and are certainly not stupid. This was the strong message from St Vincent School for the Deaf grade 10 pupils as they asked hearing people to stop discriminating against them.
Monaghan, L, Nakamura, K., Schmaling, C. & Turner, G. H. (Eds.) (May 2003). Many ways to be Deaf: International variation in Deaf communities. Twenty-four international scholars have contributed their findings from studying Deaf communities in Japan, Thailand, Viet Nam, Taiwan, Russia, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, Great Britain, Ireland, Nigeria, South Africa, Brazil, Nicaragua, and the United States. Sixteen chapters consider the various antecedents of each country1s native signed language, taking into account the historical background for their development and also the effects of foreign influences and changes in philosophies by the larger, dominant hearing societies. ISBN 1-56368-135-8
World Deaf directory - South Africa.
DeafTODAY.
(2004, March 2). Education Programme for Deaf Learners Launched. Deaf learners in the country will now receive crucial life skills and education on health-related matters, particularly HIV and AIDS. The Ministers of Health Manto Tshabalala-Msimang and Kader Asmal of Education today officially launched the South African Sign Language Videos, Learning and Teaching Support Materials at the Eldorado Park Community Hall, south of Johannesburg.
(2003, January 15). First school for the deaf and hearing opens its doors. The first inclusive primary school for deaf and normal hearing children opened its doors in Queenswood, Pretoria today. This is the first school of its kind in South Africa.
(2002, November 21). Children find new world as fences come down. Now one school, facing closure, has been saved while the other has undreamt-of space for its pupils. This is the story of the St Vincent School for the Deaf and a private school, Pridwin Preparatory Boys' School, in Melrose.
(2002, November 11). Sign language education to be considered. The government would look into the possibility of having South African Sign Language as medium of instruction and as a school subject, Kader Asmal, the Education Minister, said today.
Radebe, E. T. Kamagugu Primary School: Inclusive and multi-lingual. The main objective of any education system in a democratic society is to provide quality education for all learners so that they will be able to reach their full potential and will be able to meaningfully contribute to and participate in that society throughout their lives. The responsibility of the education system to develop and sustain such learning is premised on the recognition that education is a fundamental right which extends equally to all learners. Exercising this responsibility involved ensuring that the education system creates equal opportunities for effective learning by all learners.
Help Me Hear.
DeafTODAY.
(2005, January 31). Crown passes to new Miss Deaf South Africa. A brainy blonde Afrikaans farm girl has plans to take on the world. And if you think being hearing impaired is going to hold her back, you are in for a big surprise.
(2005, January 31). New Miss Deaf 'ecstatic.' Carin Marais was ecstatic about being crowned Miss Deaf SA on Sunday. She replaced Candice Morgan, who fell pregnant and had to relinquish her local and international titles.
(2004, December 29). Five As for deaf student. Dedicated matriculant Kashveera Chanderjith of Kharwastan, Chatsworth, proves there is no obstacle to success, not even being deaf... Securing As in English, Afrikaans, biology, accounting and business economics were as easy as pie.
(2004, March 23). Seychellois delegation impressed by facilities for deaf in S. Africa. The group of deaf people who recently made an exchange trip to Cape Town, South Africa, have described their trip as "exciting, emotional and fun." Winston Malow, Antoinette Hoareau and Shirley Alcindor, three deaf people, were accompanied by Mrs Anita Gardner on a familiarization visit last month to the Dominican Deaf School in Cape Town.
(2004, March 2). Manto learns to sign. Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang has enrolled for a course in sign language, she said when launching an educational video for deaf children. "The deaf are people like the rest of us. They have desires, dreams, ambitions, plans, problems, relationships... all the issues that all of us have to deal with. But with one big difference, they can't hear."
(2002, November 5). Parly probes cell service. Parliament on Tuesday began its public hearings aimed at improving the standard of service of the country's three cellular operators... Mike Westcott of Challenge Productions, a television and film company, said he had two deaf partners and urged cellphone operators to make available a package targeted specifically at the deaf community.
Miles, M. (2005). Deaf people living and communication in African histories, c. 960s - 1960s. There is strong documentary evidence that deaf or hearing impaired men and women, girls and boys, did occupy social space and took roles across the full spectrum of life throughout Africa in earlier centuries, living lives like everyone else and also having some different experiences. Traces and signs of deaf people appear in many sorts of historical document, such as travellers' accounts, legal and genealogical records, government, institutional and missionary archives, linguistic studies, literature, folklore, religious narrative, mime, dance and drama. Many of their experiences have involved severe economic poverty and adversity, stigmatising attitudes and exclusionary practices; yet this has not been the norm everywhere in Africa, and many deaf people have shown great resilience, perseverance, humour and ingenuity in their dealings and communications with the non-deaf world.
Mdagane, B. (August 7, 2006). Comedy now comes in sign language. SABC3's DTV programme is airing the world's first deaf sitcom. Rex's Club, a comedy series, was launched at the Postmasters in Auckland Park, Johannesburg, recently. The production crew and cast members are all deaf. "As a human being you keep on dreaming, and really it has been my dream and ambition to have a whole crew of deaf people in the production," said Louise van Niekerk of the New Production Corporation.
DeafTODAY.
(2005, April 10). Discontent, Confusion And Stagnation In Deaf Sports Africa.These days an extensive and heated e-mail message exchange is going on between the deaf sports leaders from various countries of Africa.
(2004, December 22). Deaf yachtsman completes world trip. Deaf round-the-world sailor Charl de Villiers sailed into Palacios, Texas on Sunday, completing a solo global circumnavigation in just under 10 months. This makes him the first deaf person to sail around the world alone.
(2004, October 11). Parkin hoping to train more deaf swimming champs with new academy. Deaf Olympic swimmer Terence Parkin has established a swimming academy for children who are hard of hearing. Parkin, in partnership with Widex, which manufactures hearing aids, has established the Parkin and Widex SA Swimming Academy at Kings Park Pool in Durban.
(2004, October 2). Deaf sailor docks in Cape Town. A brave South African sailor, who now stays in Texas in America, attempted to become the first deaf person to sail solo around the world this year.
(2004, September 29). Deaf man in solo circumnavigation. A former Capetonian is coming home this weekend as he attempts to become the first deaf person to sail solo around the world.
(2004, September 26). Silent Voyager puts into East London. The windless start to the day yesterday gave the impression that deaf round-the-world sailor Charl de Villiers had plain sailing here after leaving Durban on Wednesday.
(2004, September 15). Deaf man on bid to sail around the globe. A South African man is hoping to become the first deaf man to sail around the world alone, The Mercury reported from Cape Town Wednesday.
(2004, September 15). Deaf sailor on solo journey around the world. While many people may give up on their dreams and aspirations because of their disabilities, novice sailor Charl de Villiers is attempting to be the first deaf person to sail around the world solo in his yacht Island Time.
(2004, September 14). Solo sailor heading for record achievement. After a dramatic episode in his bid to become the first deaf person to circumnavigate the globe solo, East London sailor Charl de Villiers made a landfall in South Africa yesterday.
(2004, September 13). Charl puts into Durban and repairs rudder. Deaf round-the-world sailor Charl de Villiers made it to Durban early yesterday and by dark had already repaired his vessel's damaged rudder, his father, East London businessman Johan de Villiers said last night.
(2004, August 11). Parkin launches swimming academy for the deaf. Olympian Terence Parkin has announced the establishment of a swimming academy for deaf and hard-of-hearing youngsters. The 24-year-old has himself overcome profound hearing loss, and at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 he won a silver medal for the 200m breaststroke.
African organizations for Deafblind people.
Kwa Zulu Natal Deaf Association.
Broesterhuizen M. (Ed.). (2003, May 19).The Gospel preached by the Deaf: Proceedings of a conference on Deaf liberation theology held at the Faculty of Theology of the Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium). ISBN: 978-90-429-1854-2. This book contains the proceedings of a conference on Deaf Liberation Theology that took place at the Catholic University of Leuven. Four Deaf persons, rooted in the Deaf community and professionally involved in Deaf pastoral ministry, Thomas Coughlin (USA), Cyril Axelrod (South Africa), Peter McDonough (UK), and Beth Lockard (USA), relate their views on and experiences with shepherding Deaf communities as social-cultural minority groups within the hearing Church, and their efforts to enculturate the Christian message, which often looks so typically hearing in Deaf eyes, in Deaf cultures.
DeafTODAY.
(2003, September 3). Bible made easier for the deaf.A test video with six parts of the Bible translated into sign language, has been completed. The video is currently being tried out among the members of the deaf community to determine if it is viable to translate the entire book into sign language.
(2003, April 3). First 'visual Bible' for SA on the cards. The first "visual Bible" for the deaf in South Africa, is being compiled at the Free State University, Susan Lombaard, a linguist, said today. Five deaf people from across the country are being used to video-record the first selected parts in South African sign language.
DeafTODAY.
(2003, March 18). Ngubane advocates equality for 11 languages.Ben Ngubane, the Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, at a launch of the National Language Policy Framework in Pretoria today, said the promotion and development of previously disadvantaged languages is imperative. However, the minister said Sign Language was not included in the framework. He defended this saying Sign Language is a developmental language, but that more work would be done to ensure its growth.
(2003, February 7). 300 march for recognition of sign language. About 300 deaf students marched to the regional offices of the department of education on Friday to demand that sign language be officially recognised in schools' curriculum.
(2003, March 18). Ngubane advocates equality for 11 languages. Ben Ngubane, the Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, at a launch of the National Language Policy Framework in Pretoria today, said the promotion and development of previously disadvantaged languages is imperative. However, the minister said Sign Language was not included in the framework. He defended this saying Sign Language is a developmental language, but that more work would be done to ensure its growth.
(2003, February 7). 300 march for recognition of sign language. About 300 deaf students marched to the regional offices of the department of education on Friday to demand that sign language be officially recognised in schools' curriculum.
(2003, February 7). Deaf learners demand sign language inclusion in schools. A group of deaf learners under the auspices of the Deaf Federation of South Africa (Deafsa) have marched to the office of Ngoako Ramathlodi, the Limpopo Premier, in Polokwane. The learners are demanding South African Sign language be recognised as an official subject in schools.
(2003, January 24). Deaf march to make themselves heard. Deaf people are to march in all nine provinces on February 7, the day Parliament reopens, in support of South African Sign Language (SASL). The aim of the march was to lobby for and create awareness of SASL as the cornerstone of deaf education and as a basic human right of all deaf people, the Deaf Federation of South Africa (Deafsa) said in a statement.
(2003, January 20). Activist Naomi Says Deaf People Will Win Struggle for Own Language. There is a fascinating comparison being drawn between the black consciousness struggle and what South African Sign Language (SASL) activists are calling the "deaf consciousness movement".
(2002, November 13). Deaf to march for sign language. Deaf South Africans will participate in marches all over the country early next year to demand education in SA sign language (SASL). "We have been lobbying for eight years and nothing has happened," Nico Beaurain, acting national director of the Deaf Federation of SA (Deafsa), told Sapa yesterday.
-->International bibliography of sign language. --> Click on "S", then on "South African Sign Language".
South African Sign Language: A language of South Africa.
Bar-Tzur, D. Indigenous signs for cities: South Africa.
-->International bibliography of sign language. --> Click on "S", then on "South African Sign Language dictionary".
