Deaf, hard-of-hearing and hearing people took part in a 5km walk in Marks Park, Emmarentia as part of this year’s nationwide #SilentWalkAndRun.
The event took place on September 18 in line with this year’s International Week of Deaf People theme, We Sign for Human Rights.
This drive for deaf awareness was used to continue the call for South African sign language to be officially recognised as the country’s 12th official language, particularly since the deaf community was generally excluded from the mainstream economy and society. The #SilentWalkAndRun is aimed at bringing together both hearing and deaf communities.
“We had been at this for the past four years and this year was special as we were not only hosting the event for the fifth time, but it was dedicated to the memory of Judith Madi, an activist for the deaf community and founding CEO of Neema Foundation for the Deaf,” said Cebisile Ndebele, chairperson of the foundation.
For the first time, the Gauteng Department of Sports, Arts and Culture played a key role in ensuring that the annual #SilentWalkAndRun achieved its objective of spreading the word and encouraging people to learn South African sign language, to improve communication between hearing and deaf people and to inform the general public about the rights of the deaf community.
“The Gauteng government is committed in ensuring that the plight of people with disabilities is not only heard but attended to. It is for this reason that the department is part of this noble initiative. The #SilentWalkAndRun should be a reminder that we all have a responsibility to build a just society inclusive of all people with disabilities as equal citizens,” said MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation Mbali Hlophe.
All proceeds received from entries would go to Neema Foundation for the Deaf’s Family Support Group and Gender-Based Violence programme, aimed at assisting with conflict resolution in homes between a deaf child/children and hearing parents on several issues such as criminal activity, conflict resolution and self defence classes, to name a few.
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