APA-Pretoria (South Africa) President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed into law a constitutional amendment that makes sign language South Africa’s 12th official language.
Speaking at a signing ceremony for the Constitution Eighteenth Amendment Bill (South African Sign Language Bill) in Pretoria on Wednesday, Ramaphosa said having sign language recognised as an official language “will address access to education, economic and other social opportunities as well as public participation.”
“People with hearing impairments will be able to also access more services, public information and a host other opportunities,” the South African leader said.
He added: “Official recognition is just the beginning, much more work still needs to be done to support this language.”
He called on the Pan South African Language Board to standardise sign language “to collapse various geographical dialects into one standard official version.”
The amendment to make sign language an official language was approved by South Africa’s parliament in May.
Wednesday’s signing of the amendment into law makes South Africa the fourth country in Africa to recognise sign language as an official language. Other countries are Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
JN/APA