According a recent report, approximately 4 million people in South Africa are Deaf or hard-of-hearing. Eastgate Shopping Centre in Johannesburg has announced a collaboration with Convo South Africa to improve accessibility for this community.

Real-time support at key service points

Through this partnership, Eastgate now provides on-demand access to South African Sign Language (SASL) interpreters at customer service points across the centre. Deaf and hard-of-hearing shoppers are able to scan QR codes displayed at these points to connect with an interpreter via video call. The service is quick, intuitive and offered at no cost to the customer. Marking a meaningful step in the centre’s drive to offer a more inclusive shopping experience, the initiative is now live.

“Inclusivity should not be an afterthought,” says Saadiyah Kahn, General Manager at Eastgate Shopping Centre. “We’ve been looking closely at how we can better accommodate shoppers with varying needs, and this partnership with Convo is an important first move. We are committed to ensuring every customer feels seen, understood and respected.”