Mr Deaf finalist finds his voice in academics

Morehill resident Jacobus Myburgh was elated after learning President Cyril Ramaphosa had made sign language the 12th official language.

To celebrate this milestone, Myburgh hosted The Barnyard Theatre show, The Hollywood Walk of Fame: The Greatest Music From the Greatest Movies, at Emperors Palace on August 12 as a fundraiser to create awareness around deafness.

The 35-year-old said he started to have hearing problems at the age of three.

“Doctors were baffled by my ear infections, which at times included 26 different bacterial infections usually only found in severe burn wounds,” he said.

As a child, Myburgh had three ear operations to try and clear the infections and fluid build-up in his eustachian tube. However, despite receiving grommets on many occasions, the doctors were unsuccessful.

“It was quite difficult for me to wear hearing aids as a child because I was constantly bullied and made fun of for being different,” said Myburgh.

“When I go to a restaurant, I order, and the waiter asks, and, naturally, I would respond. Sometimes, I would not hear what the waiter asked and would assume he was confirming my order. When my food arrives, it is usually not what I ordered. Once, I ordered a tall coffee at a coffee shop and ended up with an iced coffee,” Myburgh added.

Despite the challenges and setbacks, he did not give up. He attained his matric in 2006 and saw an opportunity to make a statement with his academics.

Myburgh has three tertiary education qualifications, including two journalism qualifications and a Cum Laude Bachelor of Laws degree.

He is employed as a candidate attorney and is working on his second law qualification.

Mr Deaf SA finalist
Besides his academic career, Myburgh is a Mr Deaf South Africa finalist. As such, his goal is to create awareness around people like himself.

He wants to change their mindsets and show that individuals with hearing impairments are as capable as anyone else.

“My disability does not define who I am. It does not define what I am capable of and can achieve. I have already proved society wrong, and I will continue doing so. My achievements alone are a testament to what I can overcome as a hearing-impaired individual,” he said.

He plans to host a food and blanket drive for the Benoni SPCA in collaboration with a Crunch fitness studio.

“On the day, gym members will be encouraged to wear earplugs while working out, simulating the experience of being deaf. This will give them a glimpse into the challenges faced by deaf individuals and create a sense of understanding and inclusion.

“We will provide collection bins at the entrance or designated areas to make it convenient for gym members to donate,” said Myburgh.

He elaborated on how the drive would run for preferably a month, thus allowing ample time for contributions.
To buy tickets to the show, you can book by contacting Myburgh on 084 412 6644 or jacobus@jacobusmyburgh.co.za. Tickets cost R195 a person.

You can also vote for him to win the Public Choice Award by SMSing MDS13 to 47439. Voting costs R3 per SMS.

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