Vodacom South Africa has announced that it is the first organisation in the country to embed South African Sign Language, the country’s 12th official language, in the workplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It will be integrated across Vodacom’s digital platforms, employee programmes, and everyday business operations in partnership with the National Institute for the Deaf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Vodacom’s commitment represents a transformative moment for the Deaf community,” said Lynette Victor, Representative at the National Institute for the Deaf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“This partnership demonstrates what is possible when organisations move beyond tokenism to create genuine linguistic access and cultural recognition.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Njabulo Mashigo, Director of Human Resources at Vodacom South Africa, stated that inclusion is a serious commitment at Vodacom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“This initiative is about fostering a sense of belonging,” said Mashigo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“By embedding SASL into our digital DNA, we’re ensuring Deaf talent are seen, heard, and valued in every aspect of our workplace.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vodacom said it enabled the South African Sign Language Font across Microsoft 365 from September to October, and starting January 2026, it will begin rolling out additional phases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This will involve integrating a dedicated South African Sign Language dictionary into Vodacom’s Employee Engage app, making it easier for employees to learn, reference, and use the language in their daily interactions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“This initiative sits at the heart of our purpose. We’re creating a workplace where diversity and lived experience are celebrated,” said Mashigo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The Deaf community is not on the margins, they are integral to our workforce, our customer base, and our future.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mashigo also called on other South African companies across all industries and sectors to follow its example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Embedding SASL is not just the right thing to do; it’s a strategic imperative in a country where inclusion must be intersectional and intentional,” said Mashigo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I invite my peers across industries to partner with NID, invest in SASL training, and make their workplaces truly inclusive. Let’s move beyond compliance and build cultures of belonging.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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