After the announcement regarding the resignation of Ntshavheni Netshituni as President of Blind SA to take up a permanent appointment as Deputy Director with the Department of Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities, Blind SA is happy to announce the following elections at a meeting held by the Executive Committee on 9 April 2024
Christoffel de Klerk (President)
Christo from Alberton in Ekurhuleni Gauteng, matriculated from the School for the Blind in Worcester, now known as Pioneer School for the Visually Impaired in 1967.He obtained his BA (Law) Degree in 1970 and his LLB Degree in 1972 at the University of Stellenbosch, and ran a private practice as an Advocate at the Cape Town Bar from 1973 to 1979.
Career
From July 1979 to June 1985 he worked as a Computer Programmer at Standard Bank in Johannesburg and was one of the first class of three blind computer programmers to be trained at Standard Bank. This training was a joint venture of the SA National Council for the Blind and Standard Bank.
From July, 1985 to December, 1988 he worked at the Pioneer School for the Visually Impaired in Worcester. Christo’s job there had two major components, namely: he had to initiate computerized braille production and develop a braille translation table for Afrikaans braille and taught various computer subjects for learners from standard 5 up to post matric, mercantile law for standards 8 to 10 and braille for some of the lower standards. He was also instrumental in setting up an agreement with Sanlam for the joint training of computer programmers and their employment at Sanlam.
In January 1989 he joined the then United Bank (now part of Absa Bank) as a computer programmer until retirement at the end of October, 2012.
Braille: Apart from the fact that he has been a braille user since he started to school, he developed a keen interest in braille and have maintained a close involvement in braille related matters over many years. This includes overseeing braille production at Braille Services, braille teaching and training, braille promotion and development, development of translation tables for all our local languages for the Duxbury Braille Translation system, serving in and later chairing the braille authority and more than 20 years’ involvement in the work of International Council on English Braille, especially the development of the Unified English Braille code. In 2021 I received the Blind SA gold Medal of Merit which I treasure far more than the SADA award.
Othusitse Eric Gama (Vice-President)
Othusitse Eric Gama was born in the North West in rural area called Di Nokhana. He Matriculated at Bartimea School of the Blind and Deaf in Free State, studied education at the University of the Free State, received an opportunity to go study about Visual Impairments and other Disabilities at Perkins International school for the blind in the United States of America (Massachusetts) from 2013-2014. He currently resides in Bloemfontein in the Free State.
Employment history
Worked at the first Adult center for the blind in Free State and currently works at Bartimea School for the Blind and Deaf as a H.O.D. of the intermediate phase blind section.
Blind SA involvement:
Eric joined Blind SA in 2005 as a member and always aspired to be part of the work the organization does, began participating in committees in 2006. His greatest passion is to spread awareness about visual impairments and the experiences faced by blind and partially sighted people and to see them gain more independence, opportunities and inclusiveness.
Frederick Greef (Treasurer)
Derick Greeff will remain the Blind SA Treasurer
Self Employed: 1979-2013
Position Held: Very successful private practice in physiotherapy.
Voluntary Positions Held:
- Executive Committee, South African Blind Workers Organization (now Blind SA): 1996-to current as Treasurer of the national organization
- SABWO Trust: 1997-2020, Initiator and Chairman (1997-2004) and again from (2006-2020 now acting Chairperson) of this investment trust of Blind SA.
- Braille Services Trust: 2004-2006: Member and Treasurer of the Board of Trustees. Board of Management, Cape Town Society for the Blind.
- Member of the Board of Management and the Management Committee – Treasurer 2009-2017 CTSB Trust: 2000-2020:
- Member of the Board of Trustees and Chairman of this Investment Trust for the Cape Town Society for the Blind.
We wish Christo and Eric much success in their new positions at Blind SA, and we know that we are in very capable hands. 
