Blind

What Blind does

Blind SA is a South African nonprofit organisation (NPO 000-606, PBO 13000 3512) founded in 1946 as the South African Blind Workers Organisation and renamed Blind SA in 2004. It is headquartered in Alberton, Johannesburg, with a training centre in Parktown, and operates as a membership-based Disabled People's Organisation with 30 member organisations and over 1,200 individual members spanning all 9 provinces. Its mission centres on promoting the dignity and independence of blind and partially sighted South Africans through four focus areas: employment, education, mobility, and braille services, supplemented by advocacy work.

The organisation's core production capability is Braille Services (established 1953), the only producer of braille in all 11 official languages of South Africa and the country's largest braille printing press, producing approximately 2 million braille pages annually alongside large print, DAISY audio, and electronic formats. Technology stack comprises Belgium-manufactured Interpoint55 reel embossers, Viewplus Braille software, Duxbury Braille Translation, a Heidelberg GT Platen Press, Tiger Pro tactile graphic embossers, and the proprietary Mbali Isizulu Text-to-Speech software co-developed with Wits University and BlastBay Studio. The Blind SA Bookshare partnership with US-based Benetech gives members free access to over 500,000 accessible ebook titles. Auxiliary offerings include orientation and mobility training (~2.5 months per learner), assistive device distribution (Mali-Bhala money counter, Tatrapoint mechanical brailler, Braille-Me electronic braille note-taker as exclusive South African distributor), micro-business funding (ILO-accredited Start and Improve Your Business programme), 924 bursaries sponsored since 2012, and Universal Ballot Templates for accessible national elections.

Blind SA's business model is donation- and grant-funded rather than commercially revenue-driven. Income streams comprise individual and corporate donations (tax-deductible up to 10% of taxable income under PBO status), ad hoc government grants from the National Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, NSF and SETA disability-skills funding, corporate benefactors (NSF, Givaudan, SABA, ETDP SETA, British High Commission, Auto City Cares, Basic Education), and small hardware sales of assistive devices. Braille materials are subsidised for blind individuals and students; Bookshare and TTS are free; orientation and mobility training is provided at no direct cost to beneficiaries. The organisation's 2022 Constitutional Court victory, in which the Copyright Act was declared unconstitutional with section 19D read in to permit accessible-format conversion without copyright-holder permission, represents the most significant structural development in its operating environment.

Name

Blind

Legal name

Blind SA

Website

https://blindsa.org.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Blind SA is a South African nonprofit (founded 1946) operating Braille Services across all 11 official languages, an accessible ebook library via Benetech Bookshare, orientation and mobility training, assistive device distribution, and bursary programmes for blind and partially sighted persons across all 9 provinces.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Translation and Interpretation Services (54193)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741), Ophthalmic Goods (3851)

akta.pro primary industry

Accessible & Alternative Format Materials (Braille, Large Print, Audio, Tactile Graphics) (EDAGAMAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM) & Format Conversion (Braille, Large Print, DAISY) (EDAKAIAH), Vision Assistive Technology (Screen Readers, Braille, Magnification) (EDAKAIAF), Note-Taking, Interpreting & Communication Access Services (EDALAGAD), Special Education & Accessibility-Optimized Media (UDL, AAC, Captioning) (EDAGALAH)

Keywords

• Braille production services
• Disability advocacy services
• Orientation mobility training
• Accessible reading materials
• Assistive device distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Johannesburg

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Blind SA relies heavily on donations from individuals, corporations, and international organisations. Fundraising campaigns include the 'R80 for 80 Years' campaign and emergency appeals. Donations are fully tax-deductible up to 10% of taxable income (PBO status).
2. Government Grants: Receives annual ad hoc grants from the National Department of Sport, Arts and Culture for subsidised braille production and magazine publishing. Also participates in National Skills Fund (NSF) disability programmes for training.
3. Sales of Assistive Devices and Equipment: Blind SA stocks and sells assistive devices including the Mali-Bhala money counter and signature guide, TatraPoint mechanical brailler (imported from Slovakia), and Braille-Me electronic braille note-taker (exclusive distributor in South Africa).
4. Special Economic Fund: Micro-business fund established to support blind entrepreneurs with raw materials and Start and Improve Your Business training (accredited by ILO). Initial budget R20,000, supplemented by emergency fundraising.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Blind SA is a South African nonprofit organization that delivers braille production, accessible reading materials, orientation and mobility training, education bursaries, and employment support services to blind and visually impaired individuals. Its Braille Services division produces approximately 2 million braille pages annually across all 11 official languages of South Africa, complemented by the Blind SA Bookshare library partnership providing free access to over 500,000 accessible ebooks, the Mbali Isizulu Text-to-Speech software, and assistive device distribution.

Product overview

Blind SA is a South African nonprofit organization (established 1946) providing a comprehensive suite of services for blind and visually impaired individuals. The core offerings include Braille Services (the largest braille producer in all 11 official languages), the Bookshare library partnership (access to 500,000+ accessible books), the Mbali Isizulu Text-to-Speech tool, and assistive devices (Mali-Bhala money counter, Tatrapoint Brailler, Braille-Me). Supporting services encompass Orientation and Mobility training, Education support with bursaries, Employment programs with micro-business funding, and the Universal Ballot Template for accessible voting.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Braille Services: Established in 1953, Braille Services is South Africa's only producer of braille in all eleven official languages, producing approximately 2 million braille pages annually. It operates as a division of Blind SA and has expanded to include large print, Daisy, audio, and electronic formats.
• Blind SA Bookshare
• Mali-Bhala
• Universal Ballot Template (UBT)

Products and services

• Braille Services South Africa's largest braille printing press producing approximately 2 million braille pages annually in all eleven official languages. Produces braille textbooks, three monthly magazines (Braillorama, Braille Trumpet, Blind SA News), calendars, tactile graphics, and election ballot templates. Operates from the Alberton headquarters using Interpoint55 embossers and certified by the South African Braille Authority (2023-2025).
• Blind SA Bookshare Online accessible ebook library partnership with Benetech providing free access to over 500,000 unique titles in 5 accessible formats (audio, braille, large text, DAISY, ePub), totalling more than 2.5 million reading options. Available at no cost to visually impaired members who sign up at blindsa.org.za. Accessible via computers, tablets, smartphones, and braille devices.
• Mbali Isizulu Text-to-Speech (TTS) Free text-to-speech software enabling Windows screenreaders to read materials in Isizulu. Co-developed with Wits University School of African Languages and Linguistics and BlastBay Studio of Sweden, funded by the SABWO Trust. Enables blind and partially sighted users to access Isizulu-language written materials via spoken audio.
• Mali-Bhala Money Counter and Signature Guide Assistive device combining a money counter and signature guide for blind users to independently manage financial transactions. Stocked and sold by Blind SA.
• Tatrapoint Mechanical Brailler Cost-effective mechanical braille writing machine manufactured in Slovakia. Imported and sold by Blind SA to blind users.
• Braille-Me Electronic Braille Note-Taker Electronic braille note-taker and display produced in India. Blind SA serves as exclusive distributor in South Africa after testing the device.
• Orientation and Mobility Training Independent living training for blind and partially sighted persons, including navigation skills and daily living activities. Delivered in-person by provincial Orientation and Mobility Practitioners. Training takes approximately 2.5 months of daily interaction.
• Education Support Services Education programmes covering pre-school to tertiary education and adult basic education and training. Includes bursary sponsorship for blind students (924 bursaries sponsored since 2012) and interest-free loans for living costs and study materials, plus a learners' fund for parents and guardians.
• Employment and Economic Empowerment Programmes Economic empowerment initiatives including the Special Economic Fund micro-business support, Start and Improve Your Business training (accredited by ILO), and UIF/TERS application assistance for blind entrepreneurs affected by COVID-19 income losses.
• Universal Ballot Template (UBT) Assistive device for visually impaired voters to cast secret ballots independently. Features large print and braille numbering for each voting window. Blind SA produces approximately 60,000 UBTs for South African elections.

Quantifiable outcome

• 924 bursaries sponsored for blind students since 2012
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• inABLEminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 September 2021Supporting partner for the Inclusive Africa Conference 2021, co-hosted with Kenya-based NGO inABLE. Forum exploring global best practices for digital accessibility and assistive technology in Africa across education, employment, finances, and mobile technology.
• SECTION27coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 April 2021Legal advocacy partnership. SECTION27 (represented by Advocates Jonathan Berger, Faranaaz Veriava, Tauriq Moosa, and Dr Sanya Samtani) represented Blind SA in the landmark Constitutional Court case (2022) declaring the Copyright Act unconstitutional for discriminating against visually impaired persons. Partnership also includes Equality Court cases and storybook publications.
• BenetechcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2020Partnership agreement with US-based non-profit Benetech to provide the Blind SA Bookshare library. Members gain free access to over 500,000 unique ebook titles in 5 accessible formats (audio, braille, large text, DAISY, ePub). This partnership provides the largest accessible reading library available to South African visually impaired persons.
• Wits University School of African Languages and LinguisticscoreTechnology or IntegrationCo-development partner for the Isizulu Text-to-Speech (TTS) software enabling Windows screenreaders to read Isizulu materials. Project funded by SABWO Trust.
• BlastBay Studio (Sweden)coreTechnology or IntegrationTechnical development partner for Isizulu TTS software in conjunction with Wits University. BlastBay Studio developed the TTS engine enabling free Isizulu text-to-speech for blind Windows screenreader users.
• Auto City CaresminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRaffle partnership where purchasing raffle tickets (R100 each) supports Blind SA while offering chances to win a new vehicle.
• International Commission of JuristsminorOthersAdmitted as amicus curiae (friend of the court) in the Blind SA v Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition copyright case.
• Media Monitoring AfricaminorOthersAdmitted as amicus curiae (friend of the court) in the Blind SA copyright case to support the challenge against apartheid-era Copyright Act.
• ReCreate ActionminorOthersAdmitted as amicus curiae (friend of the court) in the Blind SA copyright case. ReCreate SA previously co-handed memoranda with Blind SA to the Presidency regarding copyright reform.
• Nal' iBaliminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in the launch of the storybook 'Crossing the Road' (April 2023), a children's book translated into 11 official languages, printed in braille and large print, highlighting the rights of visually impaired persons.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• South African National Council for the Blind (SANCB): South Africa's other major DPO serving blind and visually impaired persons. Directly comparable as a national non-profit offering rehabilitation, education support, and advocacy for blind South Africans, though with broader service portfolio than Blind SA.
• National Braille Press: US non-profit dedicated to braille production and distribution, producing children's books, textbooks, and tactile graphics. Directly comparable to Blind SA's Braille Services division in core product focus and target audience.
• Benetech: US non-profit operating the Bookshare accessible library platform. Directly comparable as Blind SA's core strategic partner and a parallel provider of accessible ebook content globally.
• LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired: San Francisco-based non-profit offering orientation and mobility training, employment services, and assistive technology for blind individuals - closely comparable to Blind SA's training, employment, and mobility service lines.

Broad incumbents

• Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB): UK-based national blind persons' organisation with braille production, accessible reading services, advocacy, and assistive technology - a far larger and more established analogue of Blind SA's full-service model.
• American Foundation for the Blind (AFB): US national non-profit addressing blindness and low vision through advocacy, education, and research. Comparable to Blind SA in advocacy and service breadth, though operating at much larger scale in a different regulatory environment.
• American Printing House for the Blind (APH): US-based non-profit producing educational materials, braille textbooks, and assistive products for the blind. Comparable to Blind SA in braille and accessible educational materials production, though with much broader product lines and global distribution.
• Perkins School for the Blind: US-based school and services organisation for the blind, providing education from early childhood through post-secondary. Comparable to Blind SA's education programme, including bursary sponsorship, and broader advocacy role.

Emerging players

• inABLE: Kenya-based non-profit focused on digital accessibility and assistive technology for blind Africans. Directly comparable to Blind SA in mission and African context, with closer alignment through the Inclusive Africa Conference partnership.

Others

• HumanWare: Global assistive technology company producing braille displays, note-takers, and screen readers. Comparable as a supplier/ecosystem partner in the same value chain as Blind SA's assistive device distribution (Tatrapoint, Braille-Me).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@blindsa5438
• Facebookfacebook.com/BlindRSA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blind-sa
• Xx.com/sablind

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Blind