Blind SA Office Bearers
President – Christoffel (Christo) de Klerk
Christo from Alberton in Ekurhuleni Gauteng, matriculated from the School for the Blind in Worcester, now known as Pioneer School for the Visually Impaired in 1967.He obtained his BA (Law) Degree in 1970 and his LLB Degree in 1972 at the University of Stellenbosch, and ran a private practice as an Advocate at the Cape Town Bar from 1973 to 1979.
Career
- From July 1979 to June 1985 he worked as a Computer Programmer at Standard Bank in Johannesburg and was one of the first class of three blind computer programmers to be trained at Standard Bank. This training was a joint venture of the SA National Council for the Blind and Standard Bank.
- From July, 1985 to December, 1988 he worked at the Pioneer School for the Visually Impaired in Worcester. Christo’s job there had two major components, namely: he had to initiate computerized braille production and develop a braille translation table for Afrikaans braille and taught various computer subjects for learners from standard 5 up to post matric, mercantile law for standards 8 to 10 and braille for some of the lower standards. He was also instrumental in setting up an agreement with Sanlam for the joint training of computer programmers and their employment at Sanlam.
- In January 1989 he joined the then United Bank (now part of Absa Bank) as a computer programmer until retirement at the end of October, 2012
Braille:
Apart from the fact that he has been a braille user since he started to school, he developed a keen interest in braille and have maintained a close involvement in braille related matters over many years. This includes overseeing braille production at Braille Services, braille teaching and training, braille promotion and development, development of translation tables for all our local languages for the Duxbury Braille Translation system, serving in and later chairing the braille authority and more than 20 years’ involvement in the work of ICEB, especially the development of the Unified English Braille code. Recently, on 15 March 2024, Christo was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by SADA (South African Disability Alliance)
Vice-President – Eric Gama
Othusitse Eric Gama was born in the North West in rural area called Di Nokhana
He Matriculated at Bartimea School of the Blind and Deaf in Free State, studied education at the University of the Free State, received an opportunity to go study about Visual Impairments and other Disabilities at Perkins International school for the blind in the United States of America (Masschusetts) from 2013-2014.
He currently resides in Bloemfontein in the Free State.
Employment history
Worked at the first Adult center for the blind in Free State and currently works at Bartimea School for the Blind and Deaf as a H.O.D. of the intermediate phase blind section.
Blind SA involvement:
Eric joined Blind SA in 2005 as a member and always aspired to be part of the work the organization does, began participating in committees in 2006. His greatest passion is to
Spread awareness about visual impairments and the experiences faced by blind and partially sighted people and to see them gain more independence, opportunities and inclusiveness.
TREASURER – FREDERIK (DERICK) A GREEFF
Self Employed: 1979-2013
Position Held: Very successful Private practice in physiotherapy, 1979-2013
VOLUNTARY POSITIONS HELD:
-
Executive Committee, South African Blind Workers Organization (now Blind SA): 1996-to current as Treasurer of the national organization
-
SABWO Trust: 1997-2020, Initiator and Chairman (1997-2004) and again from (2006-2020 now acting Chairperson) of this investment trust of Blind SA.
-
Braille Services Trust: 2004-2006: Member and Treasurer of the Board of Trustees. Board of Management, Cape Town Society for the Blind.
-
Member of the Board of Management and the Management Committee – Treasurer 2009-2017 CTSB Trust: 2000-2020:
-
Member of the Board of Trustees and Chairman of this Investment Trust for the Cape Town Society for the Blind.
- We wish Christo and Eric much success in their new positions at Blind SA, and we know that we are in very capable hands.
For more information, kindly contactJace Nair – CEO: email-ceo@blindsa.org.za /cell- 060 967 0258
Contact details: treasurer@blindsa.org.za
Mobile phone 079 871 7601
Office Bearers
|
Name and Surname |
Position |
Email Address |
Contact Number |
Branch |
Municipality |
|
Christo de Klerk |
President |
082 822 2706 |
BWO Orion |
Gauteng/Alberton |
|
|
Thakhani Masuka |
Vice President |
067 852 4088 |
BWO Orion |
Gauteng/Pretoria |
|
|
Tommie Lehmkühl |
Treasurer |
treasurer@blindsa.org.za |
065 956 6688 |
BWO Orion |
Gauteng/Pretoria |
Accessible Publications, Equipment and Assistive Devices
|
Name and Surname |
Position |
Email Address |
Contact Number |
Branch |
Municipality |
|
Eric Gama |
Chairperson |
065 956 6688 |
Progressive Centre |
Free State/Bloemfontein |
|
|
Jonas Ndlovu |
Member |
068 575 6530 |
BWO Orion |
Gauteng/Pretoria |
|
|
Lekhatla Likhokha |
Member |
072 772 7911 |
Progressive Centre |
Free state/Bloemfontein |
|
|
Kamohelo Mathibela |
Member |
0827461176 0684149249 |
Reikamohetse Qwaqwa |
Free State/Qwaqwa |
Advocacy and Information
|
Name and Surname |
Position |
Email Address |
Contact Number |
Branch |
Municipality |
|
Lungi Mdingi |
Chairperson |
082 782 1222 060 977 5087 |
House of Hope |
Gauteng/Randfontein |
|
|
Abraham Allies |
Member |
072 635 0036 |
Blind SA Peninsula |
Western Cape/Wellington |
|
|
Frankford Williams |
Member |
083 715 7546 |
Blind SA Peninsula |
Western Cape/Eersterivier
|
|
|
Lindiwe Manana |
Member |
0712619162 0810437195 |
SA Vision of the Blind |
KZN/Pietermaritzburg |
|
|
Nicole Roos |
Member |
0829212049 |
BWO Orion |
Gauteng/Pretoria |
Economic Empowerment
|
Name and Surname |
Position |
Email Address |
Contact Number |
Branch |
Municipality |
|
Sello Mabusela |
Chairperson |
076 010 0673 |
NOW IS THE TIME |
Limpopo/Bela Bela |
|
|
Chris Van de Vyver |
Member |
072 528 3438 |
Blind SA Peninsula |
Western Cape/Cape Town |
|
|
Clerk Mokoena |
Member |
083 5041 311 |
Reikamohetse Qwaqwa |
Free State/Wetsieshoek |
|
|
Godfrey Lebyane |
Member |
0606294713
|
LESEDI BLIND ASSOCIATION. |
Mpumalanga/Bushbuckridge |
|
|
Lekhatla Likhokha |
Member |
072 772 7911 |
Progressive Centre |
Free State/Bloemfontein |
Education and ECD
|
Name and Surname |
Position |
Email Address |
Contact Number |
Branch |
Municipality |
|
Bawinile Mdunyelwa |
Chairperson |
chairperson.education@blindsa.org.za bawinile.zungu@kznhealth.gov.za 14bawinilemdunyelwa@gmail.com |
071 308 3824 |
SA Vision of the Blind |
KZN/Pietermaritzburg |
|
Cindy Mullins-Williams |
Member |
0783717067 |
Blind SA Peninsula |
Western Cape/Eersterivier |
|
|
Estelle Roos |
Member |
079 918 9633 |
BWO Orion |
Gauteng/Pretoria |
|
|
Shirley Mashile |
Member |
063 011 0050 068 437 4283 |
Reikamohetse Qwaqwa |
Free State/Wetsieshoek |
|
|
Mpini Lethlage |
Member |
068 587 9523 |
House of Hope |
Gauteng/Kagiso |
Women and GBVF
|
Name and Surname |
Position |
Email Address |
Contact Number |
Branch |
Municipality |
|
Mpini Lethlage |
Chairperson |
068 587 9523 |
House of Hope |
Gauteng/Kagiso |
|
|
Caireen van der Vyver |
Member |
083 502 9777 |
Blind SA Peninsula |
Western Cape/Cape Town |
|
|
Gloria Maputla |
Member |
072 433 1030 |
Hans Arise and Shine |
Limpopo/Mokopane |
|
|
Lindelwa Ndzukuma |
Member |
078 4676 056 072 403 9929 |
Masihlume Organisation for the Blind |
Eastern Cape/Gqeberha |
|
|
Nancy Netshituni |
Member |
060 695 3057 076 930 2661 |
Vukani Ma-Afrika
|
Gauteng/Pretoria |
Youth
|
Name and Surname |
Position |
Email Address |
Contact Number |
Branch |
Municipality |
|
Jonas Ndlovu |
Chairperson |
068 575 6530 |
BWO Orion |
Gauteng/Pretoria |
|
|
Amogelang Dibe |
Member |
064 810 3004 |
BWO Orion |
Gauteng/Hammanskraal |
|
|
Badroeneisah Joubert |
Member |
063 494 7503 |
Blind SA Peninsula |
Western Cape/Bellville |
|
|
Kamogelo Maree |
Member |
078 853 2408 |
House of Hope |
Gauteng/Kagiso |
|
|
Thabo Sejane |
Member |
060 422 9904 |
BWO Orion |
Gauteng/Johannesburg |