No one should face blindness alone
Since 1929, the SANCB has stood beside South Africans with vision loss: fighting for sight, supporting independence, and championing equal rights.
Our vision is to build a network of strong, capacitated organisations, to fully include blind and partially sighted persons in every part of our diverse society.
Join our fight today!
Together, we can empower persons who can’t see to do what they dare to dream.
SANCB is a registered non-profit and public benefit organisation.
How we fight for sight
Prevention
Avoiding blindness through early detection and treatment.
Inclusion
Building a world where blind individuals thrive.
Advocacy
Standing up for equal rights and opportunities.
Support
Providing tools and training for independent living.
6 goals: 1 Mission
Blindness shouldn’t be a barrier to life! Our mission is to prevent blindness, empower communities, and champion the rights of partially sighted people through education, training, and advocacy.
Preventing
Blindness
Training and Rehabilitation
Assistive Devices
and Technology
Education
Social
Inclusion
Community Development
How we fight for sight
Preventing Blindness
Since 1944, our Bureau for the Prevention of Blindness has brought sight-saving services to those who need it most. Our mobile eye care units reach deep into rural areas and townships where help is scarce, offering free school eye screenings and cataract surgeries.
Cataract Outreach Programme
Through our cataract outreach, we restore the precious gift of sight to thousands each year. In partnership with provincial health departments and private donors, our mobile surgical teams work year-round to transform lives with quick, high-impact surgeries.
School Screening Programme
Children can’t learn if they can’t see! Our school eye screening programme ensures learners in disadvantaged communities get the eye care they need. Our mobile units treat minor ailments, refer complex cases, and provide free specs to school kids, opening up a world of opportunity.
How we fight for sight
Training and Rehabilitation
Optima College – a bridge to a brighter future
Optima College is one of South Africa’s few dedicated training centres for partially sighted persons. A full residential facility, Optima equips blind and partially sighted individuals with practical skills for independence and employment, including Braille literacy, computer literacy, business skills, contact centre training, skills for daily living, and more.
How we fight for sight
Assistive Devices and Technology
making every day easier
Our Assistive Technology Centre offers a wide range of affordable tools that open up new possibilities: from Braille devices and talking watches to mobility canes, liquid level indicators, screen magnifiers and readers, toys and games and more.
These tools aren’t just helpful – they’re life-changing!
How we fight for sight
Education,
Social Inclusion
and Community Development
We work hand-in-hand with local and global partners to uplift lives. Across all nine provinces, we provide educational, capacity and advocacy support to strengthen our member organisations to better serve blind and partially sighted persons.
Our National Help Desk supports job seekers, shares resources on assistive tech, and offers advice on legal rights, ensuring our community can live with dignity and independence.
We also collaborate with global partners like the African Union of the Blind and the World Blind Union to promote change on a bigger stage.
Our national network includes:
70
community-based organisations and enterprises
22
special schools for blind learners
6
early childhood development centres
You can make a difference
Your support empowers blind and partially sighted persons to do what they dare to dream!
Every donation restores sight, builds independence, and strengthens our fight for a more inclusive world.
Join the fight for sight today!