​The 9th Annual Silent Walk & Run was held on Saturday, 20 September 2025, at Marks Park Sports Club in Emmarentia. The event, which forms part of the International Month for Deaf People, aimed to shine a spotlight on the challenges faced by the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.

Hosted by the City of Johannesburg's Social Development Department in partnership with the Neema Foundation for the Deaf, the event drew over 2000 participants, including deaf, hard-of-hearing and hearing community members. The day began with a 5km silent walk through the streets of Emmarentia, followed by family-friendly activities such as silent aerobics and a kids' play area.

The event was graced by Deputy Minister of Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities, Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, alongside MMC for Health and Social Development, Cllr Ennie Makhafola.

Welcoming participants, MMC Makhafola stressed the need to support and empower the deaf community. “Eight out of 10 cases of domestic violence in the deaf community go unreported. The Silent Walk is a symbol of resilience and a clear statement that silence must never be mistaken for acceptance of gender-based violence," she said.

Neema Foundation CEO, Fatima Cele, praised the strong turnout and acknowledged the support of African Bank, which provides sign language services to better serve deaf clients.

“We still face barriers when it comes to opening gender-based violence cases at SAPS or accessing clinics. We are hopeful that the government will finally hear us and work with us on solutions," said Cele.

Parents of deaf children also raised concerns. Faith Mazibuko, mother of a deaf child, called on the government to create more opportunities for young people. “Government needs to do more to ensure that deaf children are skilled and able to find jobs after school. I believe events like the Silent Walk help raise much-needed awareness," she said.

Written by Ayanda Radebe
22/09/2025
 
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