OR Tambo District Municipality has taken a significant step towards strengthening inclusive and accessible public service delivery, following a directive by Executive Mayor, Cllr Mesuli Ngqondwana to improve the municipality’s ability to communicate effectively with members of the Deaf community.
In response, the municipality has successfully trained its first cohort of 70 participants, comprising frontline municipal staff and councilors, through a Sign Language Awareness Workshop aimed at equipping participants with the knowledge and practical understanding needed to better engage with Deaf residents accessing municipal services.
The initiative forms part of the municipality’s broader commitment to inclusive governance, particularly following the recognition of South African Sign Language as one of the official languages of the Republic of South Africa.
Meanwhile the Speaker of the Council, Cllr Nonkoliso Ngqongwa was among those who participated in the first cohort, reflecting leadership’s commitment to advancing inclusive communication delivery across the institution. In his address, Mayor, Cllr, Ngqondwana expressed that inclusive governance requires ensuring that no resident is excluded from participation or access to services. “No one deserves to live unheard. No child should be silenced by barriers they did not create. No neighbor should feel invisible in their own community,” concluded Ngqondwana.
During the workshop participants were introduced to key aspects of Deaf culture and communication, including the importance of eye contact, visual attention, environmental awareness such as lightning and vibration, and respectful engagement with deaf individuals.
