STELLALANDER-VRYBURG: In a significant step towards promoting inclusivity and enhancing service delivery, 200 police officers across South Africa, including 20 from the North West Province, have been trained as sign language interpreters.
This initiative follows the recognition of Sign Language as an official language in the country in July 2023. The contact details of these trained officers have been made available at all Community Service Centres (CSCs) to ensure effective coordination and utilisation of their skills whenever required.
On Wednesday, 7 May 2025, a certificate handover ceremony was held in Potchefstroom, where the Acting Provincial Commissioner of Police in North West, Major General Patrick Asaneng, presented certificates to the 20 trained officers. During his address, Maj Gen Asaneng emphasised the importance of continuous training and development, stating: “Training and development not only enhance employees’ skills and knowledge but also improve problem-solving capabilities. We are witnessing the benefits as our members are now equipped to assist deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals, fostering better communication and reducing complaints against the police.” He further noted that the initiative strengthens communication and collaboration within the police force, creating a more inclusive and responsive service for all members of the community. The trained members’ names and contact details have been circulated to all districts, and they will be available to assist as interpreters until more officers are trained across all districts and stations in the province.
