Asanda Katshwa’s Mission to Elevate South African Sign Language Interpreting

Photo Credit: Supplied by Nakhane Magoswana

With fewer SASL interpreters pursuing formal accreditation and ongoing mentorship, SA’s first female and black interpreter, Asanda Katshwa, is deeply motivated to step back into a public role to carry the profession’s foundations forward and ensure that no Deaf South African is left isolated by a barrier of silence.

East London, South Africa (07 July 2026) – From the moment Asanda Katshwa entered the world, communication and language required deep concentration and connection.

Born into a Deaf family in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape, sign language was not something she learned at school; it was her mother tongue, the natural language of her home and upbringing.

It is this very foundation that ultimately shaped her life’s purpose to set the standard for SASL interpreting in South Africa.

In 2003, Asanda became the first woman and the first black South African interpreter to be accredited by the South African Translators’ Institute (SATI). Even today, she is still the only accredited SASL interpreter in the Eastern Cape, out of just 11 in the whole country.

A trailblazer in elevating the profile of the deaf community and sign language interpretation in South Africa, Asanda has drawn on study visits to Sweden to learn how the profession was practised in countries already doing it well. She also trained and mentored interpreters who are now recognised across mainstream South African media, including Andiswa Gebashe and Fortune Madlala, and served two terms as Chairperson of PanSALB’s Eastern Cape Provincial Language Committee.

Photo Credit: Supplied by Nakhane Magoswana

About 10 years ago, at the height of her career, Asanda voluntarily stepped back from the spotlight to build her own company, Alsadeco, and the DEAR Centre, hoping the interpreters she trained would carry the SASL profession’s foundations forward.

Today, however, she feels a quiet sense of responsibility rather than criticism towards the field, as she has seen fewer interpreters pursuing formal accreditation and ongoing mentorship – the very things Asanda believes build lasting trust with the Deaf community.

19 July 2026 marks the 3rd anniversary of SASL becoming South Africa’s 12th official language. It is a deeply personal care for the profession, more than anything else, that is drawing the celebrated SASL interpreter and expert back into a more public role.

Even now, at 45, she continues investing in her own growth, currently completing a Master’s in Forensic Linguistics at UWC, researching how South Africa’s justice system can be made more accessible to Deaf people.

For Asanda Katshwa, stepping back into the public eye is not about personal accolades; it is about ensuring that no Deaf South African is left isolated by a barrier of silence. By championing formal accreditation and stepping up as a mentor, she is building a bridge of true equity. Her mission goes far beyond merely translating words. It is about securing the dignity, rights, and voice that the Deaf community inherently deserves.