For a decade, one Gauteng event has proved that solidarity does not need a soundtrack. On Sunday 13 September, the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation and the Neema Foundation for the Deaf commemorate the 10th Annual Silent Walk and Run at Rietvlei Zoo Farm in Alberton, a milestone celebration in the heart of Deaf Awareness Month.
The Silent Walk and Run promotes greater understanding of the Deaf community, encourages the use of sign language, and advocates for a more inclusive society where persons with disabilities enjoy equal opportunities and access.
Shining a blue light on sign languages
This year’s event is held under the theme Shine a Blue Light on Sign Languages, and organisers have widened its embrace: the 2026 edition will also raise awareness and funds in the fight against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, connecting two causes that both call for a more caring society.
Gauteng Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation MEC Lebogang Maile threw his support behind the initiative and encouraged citizens to lace up and take part.
“This initiative not only amplifies awareness and advocacy for the Deaf community but also promotes healthy lifestyles through physical activity while fostering unity, understanding and social inclusion,” Maile said.
Community-driven, government-backed
The Silent Walk and Run is one of several community-driven initiatives supported by the department through its funding assistance programme. According to Maile, it aligns directly with the province’s mandate to create inclusive spaces where all people, including persons living with disabilities, can actively participate in sport, recreation and community programmes.
The timing could not be better. South Africa has embraced South African Sign Language as an official language, and Deaf Awareness Month each September has become a national moment to celebrate Deaf culture, teach the wider public a few signs, and build bridges between hearing and Deaf communities.
A decade worth celebrating
Marking ten years of the event, Maile paid tribute to those who have kept it growing year after year.
“We salute the organisers, participants and partners who continue to champion inclusion, accessibility and equal opportunities for persons living with disabilities. Together, we can build a Gauteng that leaves no one behind and where every voice, whether spoken or signed, is valued and respected,” he said.
Entries for the Silent Walk and Run are available on the Neema Foundation website, and details of the commemoration were announced by SAnews. Whether you walk, run or sign your support from the sidelines, Rietvlei Zoo Farm promises a morning where inclusion sets the pace.
Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
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