DeafBlind South Africa

19/11/2025

Meet our Management Committee (MANCO). They are the day to day decision makers, leading the organisation to a bright(er) future.

13/11/2025

On Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 November, DBSA’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting was held in Garden Court OR Tambo.

Back, from left to right:
Lina Moseri (Limpopo Chairperson), Thelma Gasekoma (North West Representative), Alewyn Dippenaar (Co-opted NEC member), Org Scheepers (Western Cape Chairperson), Dr Johan Pretorius (Co-opted NEC member and Western Cape Office Manager), Thobile Ndlovu (National Secretary and Mpumalanga Chairperson), Olwethu April (National Youth Representative and Provincial Youth Representative: Eastern Cape), Ronel Maree (Co-opted NEC member), Albert Peters (National Treasurer and KwaZulu-Natal Chairperson), Mongezi Qupe (Eastern Cape Chairperson), Ntombekaya Msutu (National Womans’ Representative and Provincial Vice-Chairperson: Eastern Cape) and Wellington Pike (Gauteng Chairperson).

Front, from left to right:
Bianca van der Schyff (Vice Chairperson), Tracy Smith (Chairperson) and Rochelle McDonald (National Director).

Thank you for everyone who attended, and also the assistants who are not on this photograph.

Photo credit: Ryno Eksteen

27/08/2025

In a recent visit to Gauteng, National Director (Rochelle McDonald) met with Professor Störbeck at the Wits Centre for Deaf Studies (Wits University).

They began with initial talks about shaping a course on effective communication with DeafBlind people.

On the first photo, anti-clockwise from left to right: Prof Störbeck, Ms Rochelle McDonald, her assistant Bradley Adendorf, mr Rhett Hermer,
and mr Tlou Letlolo (interpretor at Wits).

Photo credit: Mr Nenio Mbazima

11/08/2025

Ms Rochelle McDonald (DBSA National Director) and Dr Johan Pretorius (DBSA Western Cape Provincial Manager) represented DBSA at NG Kerk De La Bat in Belville yesterday. They each gave a heart warming personal testimony of their journey as deafblind individuals. The service was lead by Dr Jan Oberholzer.

📷 Photo credit: Ryno Eksteen

01/08/2025

At the Western Cape's committee meeting in June, Luzell Nell (DeafBlind SA Western Cape Vice Chairperson) sang, using sign language "God loves me, I read it in the Bible, God loves me".
The meeting was held in commemoration of Helen Keller's birthday of 27 June.

Video credit: Ryno Eksteen

03/06/2025

If you live in the south of KZN, or know someone who does, please share and support. We are excited to host our second Sip and Paint, celebrating DeafBlind Awareness Week and the amazing achievements of Helen Keller and DeafBlind people in general. Last time turned out to be great fun, and this time will be too, as we're painting butterflies. Come join us. :-)

26/05/2025

Luzell Nel has completed her Computer Training Program last week. Here she received her laptop and router, handed to her by our National Director, Rochelle McDonald.

Photo 1, from left to right: Bradley Adendorf (Assistant to National Director), Luzell Nell, Rochelle McDonald (National Director) and Dr Johan Pretorius (DBSA Western Cape Provincial Manager, and trainer).

We are proud of you, Luzell!

The training was made possible by National Lotteries Commission.

Photo credit: 📷 Ryno Eksteen

Rochelle Mcdonald Tracy Smith Marlizé Beyers Innovation for the Blind

07/05/2025

Dr Johan Pretorius, DBSA Western Cape Provincial Manager, is currently facilitating a three week long Computer Training Program, aimed to equip DeafBlind individuals with basic computer literacy. His student is Luzell Nel, DBSA Western Cape Vice-Chairperson, and resident at Innovasion for the Blind. Both trainer and trainee are DeafBlind.

The training was made possible by National Lotteries Commission .

We wish Luzell all the best with her training!

📷 Photo credit: Ryno Eksteen

Rochelle Mcdonald Tracy Smith Marlizé Beyers

14/11/2024

14/11/2024

Exciting news! The Eastern Cape Provincial Management Committee has been established. On the photo from left to right are Azania Sobantu, Women Representative, Luthando Boxosa, Secretary, Mongezi Qupe, Chairperson, Ntombekaya Msutu, Vice-Chair and Loyiso Seyise, Treasurer. Congratulations to the office bearers.

29/10/2024

If you're in the South Coast of KZN, why not join us for a day of fun and food?