The SA Optometric Association is a Professional Association registered as a Non-Profit Company (NPC) representing optometrists and dispensing opticians in South Africa. Membership of the SAOA encompasses all forms of practice modalities in the private sector including independent practice, group practice and franchise models, as well as optometrists employed in the public sector, academia, and industry.
The main objective of the Association is to promote and protect the collective interests of its’ membership in good standing, and in so doing, promote the interests of the profession generally as well as those of the public.
On 31st March 1924, in the Boardroom of the Scientific and Technical Club in Johannesburg, thirteen opticians gathered to witness the birth of what was known as the South African Optical Association , now known as the South African Optometric Association. Some of the founders chose to resign within the few months of the birth of the SAOA, leaving behind nine original founders.
Having negotiated a number of challenges and hurdles at the time, the SAOA Constitution was amended on 1 December 1924 and disseminated to all members. In the same year, the SAOA celebrated its first annual dinner with 40 members present. The following year , attendance at the annual dinner grew to 55 members.
In 1926 ,the first gathering of members took place for what is known today as a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) event, to listen to a lecture on ‘glass’ ; in 1928 the Association applied to become affiliated to the Institute of Ophthalmic Optics in London.
Since its inception in 1924, the SAOA has undergone significant transformation, representing the majority of practicing optometrists in South Africa and boasts an impressive list of achievements.
The SAOA looks forward to celebrating its centennial anniversary in 2024.
The SA Optometric Association is a Professional Association registered as a Non-Profit Company (NPC) representing optometrists and dispensing opticians in South Africa. Membership of the SAOA encompasses all forms of practice modalities in the private sector including independent practice, group practice and franchise models, as well as optometrists employed in the public sector, academia, and industry.
The main objective of the Association is to promote and protect the collective interests of its membership in good standing, and in so doing, promote the interests of the professions, generally, as well as the public.
The SAOA assumes the role of the custodian of the optometric professions ,which addresses the interests and needs of members by way of advocacy programmes, professional development, the promotion of high ethical standards and support of its membership.
The Vision of the SAOA is to be acknowledged as the recognised voice and custodian of the optometric professions, by all relevant stakeholders and at all levels.
SAOA Driving Force: The Professions of Optometry and Dispensing Opticianry
The ‘Driving Force’ of SAOA represents the strategic heartbeat of the organisation and answers the question of ‘what makes the SAOA tick?’ The driving force is the single- minded focal point of the organisation.
To realise its vision, it is important for the SAOA to identify key capabilities or skills that need to be cultivated to levels of proficiency to a greater extent than any other, i.e. to a point of excellence.
The competencies to be established for SAOA, regarded as success factors, are summarised as below.
The deliverables of SAOA represent the menu of services and responsibilities in accordance with its mandate. These deliverables are categorised as follows:
Advocacy programmes – represent rights to practice and lobby across spectrum of practice modalities and environments
The Market Scope identifies the segments of the total optometry environment considered important from the SAOA perspective and defines the scope of SAOA operations and involvement.
SAOA operates within the total sphere where there is potential impact or effect on optometrists which includes:
Nivien Subramany
President
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Sandy Govender
Vice President
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Enrique Nzula
Finance Director
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Ntombi Zitha
Public Health
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Martelie Burger
Private Practice
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Nabeela Hasrod
Educational and Clinical Director
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Brendan Floyd
Special Projects portfolio
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Harry Rosen
CEO
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Michelle Naidoo
Operations Officer
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Thivasha Reddy
Marketing / Membership Manager
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Noko Thema
Marketing Administrator
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Naledi Morobi
Membership
Administrator
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Mildred Ubombo
Finance Administrator
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Ntombi Maserumule
Private Practice
Administrator
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Reesha Bhana
KwaZulu-Natal
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Lesego Mokoka
North West
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Pearl Dudu Zikiza
Eastern Cape
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Quinton Hinrichsen
Gauteng
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Vhutshilo Magoro
Limpopo
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Moses Mbombi
Mpumalanga
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Yanga Dumalisile
Gauteng
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Jenny Gopal
Eastern Cape
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Jolindi Fourie
Mpumalanga
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Caroline Berry
Western Cape
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Tshepo Malatji
Limpopo
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Mophosho Lehulere
Free State
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Sandy Govender
Western Cape
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Bernadine Nugent
Northern Cape
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MARNA PIETERSE
CHRIS EKSTEEN
ZENA JACBSON
TUWANI RASENGANE
NIVIEN SUBRAMANY
ENRIQUE NZULA
SANDY GOVENDER
HARRY ROSEN
MARNA PIETERSE/ MARTELIE BURGER: CO-CHAIRS
NIVIEN SUBRAMANY
PETER BRAUER
AUDIENCE MALULEKE
JEANNE WENTZEL
RONEL DUCCI
JOHN STEIN
THIVASHA REDDY
HARRY ROSEN (EX OFFICIO)
NABEELA HASROD
CASANDRA SEETHAL
TUWANI RASENGANE
SOLANI MATHEBULA
RAYMOND MABASO
PATRACK MAWILA
HARRY ROSEN (EX OFFICIO)
HARRY ROSEN
MARIETJIE RICHTER
ENRIQUE NZULA
SIMARCA
MILDRED UBOMBO
JOY STEWART
THIVASHA REDDY
HARRY ROSEN (EX OFFICIO)
SANDY GOVENDER
CHRIS EKSTEEN
MAGORO
NOKO THEMA
MICHELLE NAIDOO
THIVASHA REDDY
HARRY ROSEN
MARTELIE BURGER (CHAIR)
DOLLARS BOLOKA
SANDY GOVENDER
ENRIQUE NZULA
SANDRA WHITE
THIVASHA REDDY
HARRY ROSEN (EX OFFICIO)
NTOMBI ZITHA
BIGNOCIA MASINGE
HASEENA MAJID
SANDY GOVENDER (MARKETING)
THIVASHA REDDY
HARRY ROSEN (EX OFFICIO)
BRENDAN FLOYD
MARNA PIETERSE
HARRY ROSEN
HARRY ROSEN
DOLLARS BOLOKA
NIVIEN SUBRAMANY
BRIAN SNEAG
BENEFITS
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