Mahlanya – Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla has pledged that her office will continue pushing for Sign Language to be recognised as an official language in Eswatini while strengthening efforts to train parents of deaf children to improve communication and inclusion.
Speaking through US Makhosi Simelane during the International Day of the Deaf commemoration at the Bible Society Office in Mahlanya, Dladla said government recognises Sign Language as the primary medium of communication for the deaf community. She stressed that this recognition is key to ensuring that citizens with hearing impairments remain connected and informed within their communities.
“Our office will continue to advocate for the advancement and learning of Sign Language so every Liswati becomes proficient. It is incumbent upon all of us to invest in learning this vital language,” she said.
She encouraged parents of deaf students to actively learn Sign Language and confirmed that her office has organised training sessions at Matsetsa School for the Deaf. She noted that such efforts have a profound impact on the lives of deaf children.
European Union Ambassador Karsten Mecklenburg commended Eswatini for its commitment to inclusion, citing the National Disability Act of 2018 and the recently launched National Disability Plan of Action 2024–2028 as strong policy frameworks.
Other speakers included Bongani Makama of the Federation of Organisations of the Disabled in Swaziland (FODSWA), Thembinkhosi Dlamini of CANGO, Dr Ngcebo Mbuli from the National Advisory Council, UNESCO Secretary-General Lwandle Simelane, and Makhosini Makhubu, President of the National Deaf Association.
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