Blind SA

08/10/2026

✨ 20 DAYS TO GO!*✨

The countdown is on! ⏳

👧🏾 EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE

📅 28 October 2026
📍 Manhattan Hotel, Pretoria

🌱 Inclusive Early Learning
👨‍👩‍👧 Support for Families & Caregivers
📖 Accessible Education
🌟 Empowering Independence

Let’s come together to champion inclusion, accessibility and equal opportunities from the earliest years.

💙💛 Because every child matters.

20 DAYS TO GO!

07/10/2026

🚨 21 DAYS TO GO! 🚨

🌟 THE COUNTDOWN IS ON! 🌟

BLIND SA ECD CONFERENCE 2026

📅 28 OCTOBER 2026

Join Blind SA for an important conversation on Early Childhood Development, inclusion and accessibility

👶🏾 Why does inclusive ECD matter?
📚 How can we create accessible learning opportunities?
🤝🏾 What can we do to ensure no child is left behind?

Be part of the conversation as we bring together educators, parents, professionals, organisations and stakeholders committed to building a more inclusive future for children who are blind and partially sighted.

🔥 21 DAYS TO GO!

80 YEARS OF IMPACT.
A FUTURE OF INCLUSION.

📲 RSVP Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeYJs2ASuuhPd9hvf4wEJuJjClNaXVBLkXvn_OOH8SK_YMNjQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=109563957911159704261

06/10/2026

BLIND SA MOURNS THE LOSS OF LEGENDARY BLIND MUSICIAN BABSY MLANGENI

Blind SA is deeply saddened by the passing of legendary blind singer, guitarist and composer Babsy Mlangeni who passed away on 1 October at the age of 83.

Blind since childhood, Babsy Mlangeni dedicated more than five decades to music, using his extraordinary talent to inspire generations and leave an enduring mark on South Africa’s music landscape.

Beyond his remarkable musical career, Babsy was a powerful example of what is possible when talent, determination and opportunity come together. He demonstrated that blindness is no barrier to greatness and played an important role in mentoring and inspiring other visually impaired artists.

His life and legacy reflect the values we continue to champion at Blind SA — dignity, independence, inclusion and equal opportunity for blind and partially sighted people.

We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, fellow musicians and the many fans whose lives were touched by his music.

Robala ka khotso, Ntate Babsy.
Thank you for the music, the inspiration and the legacy. 🎶🕊️

Your voice may be silent, but your music will live on..

06/10/2026

🎙️ RADIO INTERVIEW | LESedi FM

Join Thabo Sejane, Secretary of the Blind SA Youth Committee, as he takes to the airwaves of Lesedi FM today at 16:15.

Thabo will be reflecting on the 2026 Youth Parliament, sharing insights from the event, key discussions, and the experiences and perspectives of young people with disabilities.

📻 Tune in: Lesedi FM
⏰ Time: 16:15
🎙️ Guest: Thabo Sejane
👥 Blind SA Youth Committee – Secretary

Don’t miss this important conversation as we continue to amplify youth voices, inclusion and meaningful participation.

05/10/2026

Information should never be a privilege reserved for a few.

For 80 years, Blind SA has been a lifeline for the visually impaired community, standing as the country's sole publisher dedicated to translating information into all 11 official languages.

Let’s honour their milestone anniversary. A contribution of just R80 helps bridge the language gap and empowers readers across South Africa.

Support the campaign today: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/r80-for-80-years

05/10/2026

05/10/2026

Braille is more than a system of reading and writing, it is a pathway to education, independence, participation and opportunity.

The Global Braille Survey is helping build a stronger understanding of how braille is learned, taught, accessed and used around the world.

If you are blind, have low vision or are deafblind, a parent/guardian, teacher, braille professional or transcriber, your voice matters.

Take part in the survey and help strengthen the global evidence base for braille literacy.

👉 Take the Global Braille Survey: https://kusurvey.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_77Dg1BuBQDi54RE

Please share with your networks and help us reach more people.

04/10/2026

BLIND SA MOURNS THE LOSS OF A CHAMPION OF INDEPENDENT MOBILITY

The Community-Based Rehabilitation sector has lost one of its own.
Blind SA extends its deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the Mashiane family following the devastating loss of Nape Mashiane — a beloved son, brother, uncle, father and a valued member of the broader rehabilitation community.
Nape was among the very few Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Practitioners serving the blindness sector through the Guide-Dog Association of South Africa. His passing is therefore not only a profound personal loss to his family, friends and colleagues; it is also a significant loss to the rehabilitation profession and to the many blind and partially sighted people whose independence depends on access to specialised O&M services.
Orientation and Mobility is one of the scarcest specialised skills in South Africa. Every practitioner matters. Every practitioner lost leaves a gap that cannot easily be filled — particularly at a time when the number of South Africans losing sight continues to grow and the demand for rehabilitation services is increasing.
O&M practitioners do far more than teach people how to move from one place to another. They help blind and partially sighted people regain confidence, navigate their communities, access education and employment, participate in public life, and live with greater independence and dignity. Their work opens doors to opportunities that many people take for granted.
Nape's contribution to this important work will therefore not be forgotten.
His passing is a painful reminder of the urgent need for South Africa to invest in, develop and retain scarce rehabilitation skills, particularly Orientation and Mobility practitioners. The right to rehabilitation, independent mobility and meaningful participation cannot become a reality without the professionals who make these rights accessible in people's everyday lives.
As Blind SA, we honour Nape's contribution to the lives of blind and partially sighted people and stand with his family, colleagues and the wider rehabilitation community during this difficult time.
May his family find strength in knowing that his work mattered, his contribution made a difference, and his legacy will live on through the independence and dignity of the people he served.

Rest in peace, Nape.

Blind SA

Advancing the rights, independence and inclusion of blind and partially sighted South Africans.

04/10/2026

🎙️ Inclusive Insight presents The Blindside with Blind SA
This October, we celebrate 80 years of Blind SA—a legacy of advocacy, empowerment, and opportunity for people who are blind and partially sighted.
Join us as we sit down with Tommie Lehmkühl, Treasurer of Blind SA and long-time champion for inclusion. From his journey at the School for the Blind Worcester to leading committees that drive economic empowerment and advocacy, Tommie brings powerful insights into the past, present, and future of Blind SA.
✨ What to expect:
•
Reflections on 80 years of resilience and achievement
•
Highlights of the campaign and October celebrations
•
A vision for the next 80 years of inclusion and opportunity
📅 Date: Monday, 5 October 2026
⏰ Time: 10:30-11:00 AM
📻 Tune in: Skills Village Radio
https://zeno.fm/radio/skills-village-radio/
🔖 Hashtag:
👉 Don’t miss this inspiring conversation—because 80 years is not just history, it’s a celebration of people, resilience, and the journey toward a more inclusive South Africa.

02/10/2026