Janice Jonker, her husband Raymond Jonker and daughter, Rayleigh. Picture Supplied.
Commitment to preserve her
relationship with her husband internally and bridge communication gap between
themselves, motivated the CEO of Miss, Mrs & Mr Deaf South Africa to
effectively learn South African Sign Language (SASL).
Learning SASL did not only
improve communication between Janice Jonker (47) and her husband, but it later
broadened her interactions with the Deaf community. Jonker was born Deaf,
however, she learnt communication in SASL at the age of 20 as she did not attend
a specialised school for the Deaf. Her husband is also Deaf.
Confidence in herself as a
woman, in her SASL communications skills, and her intellect earned her the
title of 2nd Princess for Mrs Deaf South Africa in 2016. Two years after the
pageant, she became the CEO of the organization in 2018. Apart from her
volunteer work as CEO for Miss, Mrs and Mrs South Africa, Jonker is employed as
an office administrator for a hearing protection company.
The mother of three young
adults, was born in King William’s Town and raised in East London, but
currently lives in Pretoria.
Taking us through her childhood
journey, Jonker said, “I attended a Deaf school in Hout Bay for 11 years as a
boarder [boarding school] in Cape Town, before transferring to a mainstream
school in East London to be nearer to home. I attended an oral Deaf school
where the emphasis was on teaching spoken language, and the use of sign
language was not permitted. I began learning Sign Language at the age of 20,
starting with Level 1 classes, which I completed with encouragement from a
hearing friend.”
Jonker said:
“I have profound hearing loss,
so I would be classified as Deaf. I was born Deaf. My parents initially
suspected that my hearing loss might have been caused by medication. But it has
since been determined that the hearing loss [in Jonker] is indeed due to
genetics.”
She said her son is
hard-of-hearing and doctors believe it could be attributed to genetic causes.
Detailing how she became the CEO
of Miss, Mrs and Mr Deaf South Africa NPO, she said, “In 2016, I was a finalist
and was part of the inaugural group of Mrs contestants competing for the Mrs
Deaf South Africa title. I earned the title of 2nd Princess. Following this
achievement, I was honoured to be invited to join the management team in 2017,
where I initially volunteered as a sponsorship manager. After the previous CEO
stepped down in 2018, I assumed the role. This volunteer work has been a
profound source of inspiration, significantly boosting my confidence and
motivation since my time as a finalist.”
Jonker specified that the
pageant, started as Miss Deaf South Africa in 2000, and “there were many Deaf
people who wanted an opportunity to join the competition. But some were married
or have children, we decided to give them the opportunity as we felt that they
enjoy this experience. The Mr and Mrs Category started in 2016.”
Candidates must be females aged,
19 to 34, unmarried and without children to qualify to compete for the Miss
Deaf South Africa crown.
“For the Mr and Mrs categories,
participants must be Deaf individuals aged 19 to 55. Our eligibility criteria
are informed by international competition standards to ensure consistency and
inclusivity,” said Jonker.
She said the competition has
significantly empowered the Deaf community in South Africa. As a result of the
pageant many “former finalists have experienced increased confidence and
self-esteem. Additionally, it provides them with opportunities to make new
connections and develop skills for communicating with hearing individuals. This
includes reaching out to companies, families, and friends for donations and
sponsorships.”
The winners she said receive a
crown, sash, and a range of sponsored prizes. But Jonker said the specific
prizes and their value vary each year depending on sponsorships and the funds
raised throughout the year, as well as the available budget.
“The pageant is held annually,
maintaining a consistent schedule each year. However, there have been instances
where the event had to be postponed due to circumstances such as the COVID-19
pandemic.”
Jean-mari Cornelius, Janice Jonker, Coreza Buys and Lourindia Janssen. Picture supplied.
On how she has managed to juggle
around family life and work, she said, “I have three young adult children (two
girls and a boy). Both of my girls have normal hearing, my son is hard of
hearing and wears hearing aids. I dedicate approximately two hours each day to
my volunteer work while ensuring that I prioritise quality time with my family
and maintain a fulfilling social life. I have developed a strategy to balance
my professional responsibilities with family commitments, effectively managing
my time to meet both personal and work-related obligations.”
Elucidating on the competition,
she said “It aims to build bridges between the hearing and Deaf communities and
to demonstrate to companies that Deaf individuals are highly capable and
deserving of employment opportunities. Despite common misconceptions—such as
the challenge of hearing over the phone—there are numerous alternative
communication methods, such as WhatsApp, email, and online chat, that can
effectively facilitate interactions in a professional setting.”
She says the NPO strives to
showcase the skills and potential of Deaf people throughout South Africa and
advocate for equal rights and opportunities.
“We are deeply grateful to the
sponsors who have supported us over the years; their contributions have been
vital to our success. We encourage companies to continue supporting us through
sponsorships or donations, which are crucial for sustaining the competition and
providing winners with opportunities for exposure. Currently, three winners are
set to represent South Africa in international competitions taking place in
October and November. Any assistance, whether financial or in-kind, to help
them participate in these prestigious events would be greatly appreciated,” she
said.
