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.
It will be integrated across Vodacom’s digital platforms, employee programmes, and everyday business operations in partnership with the National Institute for the Deaf.
“Vodacom’s commitment represents a transformative moment for the Deaf community,” said Lynette Victor, Representative at the National Institute for the Deaf.
“This partnership demonstrates what is possible when organisations move beyond tokenism to create genuine linguistic access and cultural recognition.”
Njabulo Mashigo, Director of Human Resources at Vodacom South Africa, stated that inclusion is a serious commitment at Vodacom.
“This initiative is about fostering a sense of belonging,” said Mashigo.
“By embedding SASL into our digital DNA, we’re ensuring Deaf talent are seen, heard, and valued in every aspect of our workplace.”
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.
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.
“This initiative sits at the heart of our purpose. We’re creating a workplace where diversity and lived experience are celebrated,” said Mashigo.
“The Deaf community is not on the margins, they are integral to our workforce, our customer base, and our future.”
Mashigo also called on other South African companies across all industries and sectors to follow its example.
“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.
“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.”
