South Africa adopts sign language as official language

South African authorities have adopted sign language as the country’s 12th official language, local media reported.

President Cyril Ramaphosa formally approved the Sign Language Bill into law during a ceremony in Pretoria.

Some of the country’s other languages are Afrikaans, English, Xhosa and Zulu.

South Africa is the fourth country on the continent to recognise signing as an official language after Kenya, Zimbabwe and Uganda.

The South African National Deaf Association said the law was “long overdue”. It’s estimated that there are 600,000 deaf people in South Africa and 1.4 million with hearing loss.