South African Sign Language Interpreter, Senzi Motha learned Sign Language to preach to the Deaf community and to fight for their rights. Picture Supplied.
A South African Sign Language Interpreter (SASLI) is fulfilling her pastoral duties by preaching to her flock simultaneously in South African Sign Language (SASL) and orally.
Although some of the churches in the country use SASLIs to interpret during church services, it is extremely rare to come across a pastor who concurrently preaches in SASL.
Hence, Pastor Senzi Motha of Umthombo Wokuphila Ministries International in Esangweni Section, Tembisa in Ekurhuleni, could be regarded as an extraordinary minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Motha believes she is among a few in the country who can preach to the congregation in SASL.
Unlike most churches which have only few Deaf members, Motha said Umthombo Wokuphila Ministries International has many. The church has both hearing and Deaf members. Therefore it, “gives the Deaf community an opportunity to express their love to God, who is their Maker.”
Motha has been a pastor for the past six years. She explained that she learned SASL 20 years ago, from her former colleague, who is Deaf.
“I started learning SASL in 2002 when I was working for a company that had employed a Deaf lady. We used to communicate in writing. I then asked her to teach me to Sign three alphabets a day and she did,” recalled Motha.
In her second informal lesson with her colleague, she learned how to Sign names of people.
“Afterward, I started interpreting for her in the same company, although I was not perfect. At that time, I was not fluent in SASL, but she understood what I was saying. Later more people from the Deaf community were employed by the same company due to my support toward them.
“I stood for their rights although I was still learning SASL. I protected them (Deaf community) from the hearing community who were taking advantage of them,” said Motha.
In her fight for their rights, she has also interpreted for the same colleague in court. The colleague had been sexually harassed by her fellow co-worker. The matter was before the Pretoria Magistrates Court and Motha’s SASL skills assisted the court to communicate effectively with the victim. The court ruled in favour of the victim.
To polish her skills, Motha opted to learn basic SASL at Wits University around 2004 but could not further her studies “due to lack of funds.”
As she improved in her SASL’s skills, she became a volunteer at DeafSA where she focused on educating the Deaf community about HIV/Aids. Apart from being a pastor, she is employed as a SASL at DeafSA.
“I learned SASL to be their (Deaf Community) helper or voice between them and the hearing community. This is because there was no one who could interpret for them in my previous workplace and in communities where I went to. Therefore, knowing how to Sign was like the light had shone upon them.”
The key challenge that is affecting the Deaf community is “Language barrier and lack of interpretation services” between them and the hearing community.
Therefore, to bridge the communication gap between the two communities, Motha’s church often raises awareness about the plight of the Deaf people to the hearing community. She encourages them “to learn SASL and to embrace and love the Deaf community.”
“I assist them (Deaf community) by teaching the hearing community basic SASL skills. This helps them to easily communicate with the Deaf. I also encourage them to love and embrace them. In so doing, I break the barrier between the Deaf and hearing communities.”
Although, the doors of Umthombo Wokuphila Ministries International are continually opened for the Deaf community, Motha said they do not have adequate resources to assist victims of sexual and domestic violence.
She explained that they often offer “counselling” to victims of sexual and domestic violence during emergencies. But for in-depth counselling, the church refers the victims to DeafSA “where they provide social work services.”
Motha’s church needs more interpreters to address the plight of the Deaf community.
Although some of the churches in the country use SASLIs to interpret during church services, it is extremely rare to come across a pastor who concurrently preaches in SASL.
Hence, Pastor Senzi Motha of Umthombo Wokuphila Ministries International in Esangweni Section, Tembisa in Ekurhuleni, could be regarded as an extraordinary minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Motha believes she is among a few in the country who can preach to the congregation in SASL.
Unlike most churches which have only few Deaf members, Motha said Umthombo Wokuphila Ministries International has many. The church has both hearing and Deaf members. Therefore it, “gives the Deaf community an opportunity to express their love to God, who is their Maker.”
Motha has been a pastor for the past six years. She explained that she learned SASL 20 years ago, from her former colleague, who is Deaf.
“I started learning SASL in 2002 when I was working for a company that had employed a Deaf lady. We used to communicate in writing. I then asked her to teach me to Sign three alphabets a day and she did,” recalled Motha.
In her second informal lesson with her colleague, she learned how to Sign names of people.
“Afterward, I started interpreting for her in the same company, although I was not perfect. At that time, I was not fluent in SASL, but she understood what I was saying. Later more people from the Deaf community were employed by the same company due to my support toward them.
“I stood for their rights although I was still learning SASL. I protected them (Deaf community) from the hearing community who were taking advantage of them,” said Motha.
In her fight for their rights, she has also interpreted for the same colleague in court. The colleague had been sexually harassed by her fellow co-worker. The matter was before the Pretoria Magistrates Court and Motha’s SASL skills assisted the court to communicate effectively with the victim. The court ruled in favour of the victim.
To polish her skills, Motha opted to learn basic SASL at Wits University around 2004 but could not further her studies “due to lack of funds.”
As she improved in her SASL’s skills, she became a volunteer at DeafSA where she focused on educating the Deaf community about HIV/Aids. Apart from being a pastor, she is employed as a SASL at DeafSA.
“I learned SASL to be their (Deaf Community) helper or voice between them and the hearing community. This is because there was no one who could interpret for them in my previous workplace and in communities where I went to. Therefore, knowing how to Sign was like the light had shone upon them.”
The key challenge that is affecting the Deaf community is “Language barrier and lack of interpretation services” between them and the hearing community.
Therefore, to bridge the communication gap between the two communities, Motha’s church often raises awareness about the plight of the Deaf people to the hearing community. She encourages them “to learn SASL and to embrace and love the Deaf community.”
“I assist them (Deaf community) by teaching the hearing community basic SASL skills. This helps them to easily communicate with the Deaf. I also encourage them to love and embrace them. In so doing, I break the barrier between the Deaf and hearing communities.”
Although, the doors of Umthombo Wokuphila Ministries International are continually opened for the Deaf community, Motha said they do not have adequate resources to assist victims of sexual and domestic violence.
She explained that they often offer “counselling” to victims of sexual and domestic violence during emergencies. But for in-depth counselling, the church refers the victims to DeafSA “where they provide social work services.”
Motha’s church needs more interpreters to address the plight of the Deaf community.
