Latest news with #Sepedi
TimesLIVE
2 days ago
- General
- TimesLIVE
Pretoria PhD graduate creates Sepedi comms tool for disabled children
For many children with communication disabilities, expressing their thoughts, needs and feelings can feel impossible, especially when the tools available are not coded in their language. But one South African scholar made it her mission to change that. Dr Ngwanamaishe Rahab Mothapo, a University of Pretoria PhD graduate, has developed a communication system that allows Sepedi-speaking children with communication impairments to express themselves in their language and on their terms. The non-electronic, picture-based tool is specifically designed for preliterate children who speak Sepedi, a language spoken widely in Limpopo. Her work marks the first culturally rooted augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) system of its kind in the country. 'It's really about giving these children a voice,' said Mothapo. 'Enabling them to take part in communication, which is a human right.' Her motivation was deeply personal. Growing up in Polokwane, Limpopo, she had a relative whose son lived with an intellectual disability and struggled to communicate. 'Because we knew our way around him, it was much easier for us to understand him,' she said. It was during this period that she became increasingly aware of a gap in the field. That experience stayed with her and later shaped her career as a speech-language pathologist and audiologist. When she entered the profession, she found that the resources available to support children with communication needs were not only limited, but also culturally foreign. 'Our profession is very Western-centric. The tools we use, the tests, the assessment frameworks are all based on English-speaking children in Western contexts,' she said. 'That is a problem when you are working in Limpopo with Sepedi-speaking children who can't relate to those tools at all.' Her research journey began by developing the 222 most commonly used Sepedi words, which she calls 'core vocabulary' words, which laid the foundation of her PhD. Her doctoral study aimed to create a usable system that children could hold in their hands, and use at home, at school or in clinics and 'feel seen' by using it. Her PhD research, conducted at the university's Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), used a design methodology that places users at the heart of the process. She engaged a range of stakeholders, including teachers, parents, linguists, speech therapists and even adults who had grown up using AAC devices. 'If we don't consider the people who will use the system, their culture, their language, daily lives, then we end up with tools that people abandon,' said Mothapo. 'That is something we see globally with assertive technology. It is not used because it does not resonate.' The picture-based board contains more than 600 items, grouped by how children use language socially and contextually. It includes: Greeting phrases and everyday expressions; A QWERTY keyboard with Sepedi-specific phonemes; Core vocabulary including nouns, pronouns, verbs and adjectives; Fringe vocabulary, tailored to specific settings such as playtime or weddings 'The system is intentionally flexible, allowing children, caregivers and teachers to adjust vocabulary according to the situation, whether a child is at school, in a park, or attending a ceremony,' she said. The board also contains emojis that reflect the reality of children who use it. Her findings highlighted the importance of dialectical variations. 'Polokwane Sepedi is not the same as Sekhukhune Sepedi,' said Mothapo, adding that teachers and therapists must consider these differences when using the system. The final product is now being used by some of the schools and families who took part in the research. Mothapo has also shared the tool with the Limpopo education department and hopes it will soon be rolled out more widely. 'This is not something I'm trying to sell. The aim is not to monetise it,' she said. 'Raising a child with a disability is already expensive. Communication should not be a luxury; it is a basic need.' Her vision reaches beyond Sepedi-speaking children. She hopes her work will serve as a blueprint for other South African languages, particularly those that have been historically marginalised in healthcare and education. 'If this device is going to act as my voice and I'm going to use it to interact with my community, then it must reflect who I am, my culture, my language,' she said. 'Otherwise, it only adds to the isolation.' To future researchers from marginalised backgrounds, Mothapo offers encouragement and a challenge. 'There is a phrase I believe in: 'Nothing about us without us.' We can't keep letting outsiders define our languages and our communities. Don't be afraid to explore new ground, even if there is not much research already done. Be fearless.'
The Citizen
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Local star Clement Maosa releases uplifting ‘Lekompo Anthem'
Quick read 'Skeem Saam' actor Clement Maosa has released a vibrant new single titled Lekompo Anthem with up-and-coming artist Bayor97. Rooted in the joy and unity of Lekompo culture, the track blends nostalgic influences from the Dalom Kids with fresh energy. Maosa hopes the feel-good anthem will unite families and find success on radio and TV. Bayor97 sees the collaboration as a stepping stone toward more partnerships and greater exposure. Full story POLOKWANE – Clement Maosa, best known for his role as Kwaito in the Sepedi soapie 'Skeem Saam', has released his new single, 'Lekompo Anthem' alongside rising artist Bayor97. Rooted in the joyous spirit of Lekompo culture – where communities stay united and dance their troubles away – the track pays homage to a classic tune by the Dalom Kids while adding fresh energy for today's audiences. Maosa sees Lekompo's rapid rise as the perfect moment to share a hit that bridges generations. 'My dream is to keep releasing music that travels internationally, bringing families together with that nostalgic, feel-good vibe,' he said. He hopes the anthem will earn widespread radio and television play, becoming a staple at family gatherings. Music has always been at the heart of Maosa's life. From school choirs to Sunday school performances, he has embraced every opportunity to tell stories through song. 'An authentic artist pours their soul into their music,' he said. Behind the scenes, Maosa faces familiar industry hurdles: securing effective public relations, marketing to broader audiences, and overcoming low streaming revenues. He tackles these challenges by leveraging his social media presence and seeking creative alternatives to keep his music in the spotlight. For Bayor97, inspiration struck organically during a studio session. After reaching out to Maosa about a collaboration, he found the perfect moment to introduce a classic sample into the mix. 'I want to push this track to the limit, open new doors, and spark more collaborations.' With ambition and openness to wherever the journey leads, both artists are poised to take Lekompo culture, and their careers, to new heights. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
10-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Outrage over Limpopo council's R3 million Warmbaths conference
The DA claims the money could have been best spent on addressing service delivery backlogs A war of words has broken out between political parties in the Elias Motsoaledi local municipality in the Sekhukhune region in Limpopo over R3 million in alleged wasteful and irregular expenditures. The fierce argument is between councillors from the ANC, DA, and the Bolsheviks party of South Africa. At the centre of controversy are allegations that the ANC-led council spent more than R3 million on food, transport, and accommodation for about 300 councillors at the Belabela Aventura in Warmbaths for a councillors' conference in October last year. DA councillor and caucus leader Sipho Mmaboko said the party has written to the office of the Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke, asking her office to look into the alleged wasteful expenditure. The party alleged the expenditure was exorbitant and that it could have been best spent on addressing service delivery backlogs, such as building municipal roads and bridges, collecting garbage and giving municipal buildings a new facelift. A costly conference About 400 councillors and staffers attended the conference, with the exception of the DA, as it protested the cost implications. Some of the expenses incurred during the conference, according to the DA, included: R1 030 773.75 for the accommodation of councillors, R893 550 for the conference package at Forever Resorts Bela Bela R513 532 for the supply and delivery of golf t-shirts for the ward committee conference R142 011 for fifteen 22-seater taxis from all wards to transport ward committee members, R 864 432 for 400 soft shell jackets for 310 ward committee members, 61 members of council and 29 officials for a ward committee conference, and 260 hiker hats for Extended Public Works Programme participants. ALSO READ: Limpopo ANC conference rocked by membership manipulation claims President of the Bolsheviks Seun Mogotji was outraged 'Sekhukhune is known in the province and beyond as a haven for both international and domestic tourists. The region boasts a wide range of sophisticated lodges, with breathtaking halls and kitchens unparalleled by any. 'We are baffled to the core that this council chose to hold their conference hundreds of kilometres away from home. What is it that Bela-Bela has that we don't have? 'This ANC-led council must hang their heads in shame. What are they saying about the local economy? 'They must just make sure they bring back the money. It belongs to the taxpayers. Otherwise, otla nkga goss bola [a Sepedi expression which loosely translates: all hell will break loose]'. ALSO READ: Malema slams politicians exploiting 'blackness' to mask corruption and escape justice Municipality defends conference Municipality spokesperson Simon Makua said the primary function of ward committees was to promote accountable and participatory governance. 'These structures are essential for ensuring that the voices of community members are heard and represented in local decision-making processes' 'The selection of the venue for the conference was conducted through a competitive bidding process. This approach was taken to ensure that the municipality addresses the required capacity needs of the attendees while also being mindful of the associated cost. 'It is also important to note that due to capacity limitations within Sekhukhune, no local venue was able to accommodate the 390 delegates expected at the conference. This necessitated the selection of a venue outside the immediate area,' said Makua. Makua said his municipality remained committed to transparency and accountability in all its operations. 'We adhere strictly to the bidding process and are dedicated to ensuring that the ward committee conference not only fulfils its objectives but also contributes to local economic empowerment,' he said.
