The South African National Council for the Blind (Council) is a Non-Government Organisation (NGO) striving to meet the needs of all blind and partially sighted people in South Africa.

Our services include rehabilitation, education and training, the provision of assistive devices, social and economic development and programmes promoting the prevention of blindness and the restoration of sight.

Council, with its Head Office situated in Pretoria, comprises 95 affiliated member organisations which share Council’s goal of providing services to visually impaired people across South Africa, approximately 90% of whom come from previously disadvantaged groups. 

Council’s management is made up of a dedicated and diversified team, fully compliant with BEE standards, who strive to maintain Council’s vision and to keep the promise we have made in this, our 80th year of service – Sustainability, Equality, Empowerment: S.E.E.  

Click here for a full list of our Member Organisations.

We are committed to:

• Fostering and promoting conditions to enable all blind and partially sighted people of all ages to live dignified, productive and meaningful lives;
• Consulting with and lobbying all relevant institutions and individuals in government, public and private sectors, on matters relating to policy and legislation pertinent to the interests of blind and partially sighted persons.
• Developing and maintaining standards for services offered to blind and partially sighted people;
• Promoting the education, learning and skills development, and opportunities for employment of blind and partially sighted people;
• Helping organisations for and of the blind to deliver effective and relevant services to blind and partially sighted people and their families or other interested stakeholders;
• Gathering, disseminating and managing information on matters concerning blindness and related services to and on behalf of blind and partially sighted people;
• Initiating, developing and implementing projects that benefit blind and partially sighted people of all ages.
• Promoting and engaging in relevant research;
• Producing and promoting the  accessibility of assistive devices and related technologies to blind and partially sighted people;
• Preserving and restoring sight and preventing blindness;
• Co-operating with and exchanging information, advice and assistance with organisations and agencies in South Africa, Africa and the rest of the world concerned with the improvement of the quality of life of blind and partially sighted people;
• Promoting knowledge of the skills, capacities and abilities of blind and partially sighted people;
• Resisting the marginalization of blind and partially  sighted people in every way; and
• Ensuring that blind and partially sighted people of all ages enjoy all rights promised by the Constitution of South Africa.