QASA launched a COVID-19 Relief Fund

People with disabilities are among the worst affected during this global pandemic. They are some of the most vulnerable groups to falling severely ill with COVID-19 because of their compromised immune systems. In addition, the national lockdown has devasting financial impacts.

“The QuadPara Association of South Africa (QASA) is cognisant of the efforts in place to combat COVID-19 with more and more people suffering due to a lack of income, access to healthcare and food,” says Raven Benny, COO of QASA. “QASA is cautious of the effect it will have on its members. Many rely solely on the meagre R1 860 per month disability grant from SASSA, while others have lost the chance of earning income from not being able to return to work due to added comorbidities.”

While many businesses are closing and individuals are losing their source of income, people with disabilities are in dire need of assistance to supplement their grants or income. Fortunately for quadriplegics and paraplegics in South Africa, QASA has established its COVID-19 Relief Fund to offer support during this difficult time. “QASA is reprioritised some of its resources and is committed to reaching out to our members through this fund. However, we cannot sustain the fund on our own. We need support from our fellow South Africans and businesses alike,” Benny notes. Donations can be made via the QASA COVID-19 Relief Fund BackaBuddy campaign (https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/qasa-covid-19-relief) or EFT to:

Account holder: QASA

Account number: 730570406

Branch code: 632 005

Reference: COVID-19 

Upon request will QASA provide donors with a Section 18A Tax Exemption Certificate for their donations.“QASA is very grateful for the response we’ve had so far towards our plea for contributions towards this fund. Thank you very much to those who have made donations over the past week,” Benny concludes.

Quadriplegics or paraplegics who require any form of assistance can contact the QASA head office during office hours ( 08h00 to 16h00) at 031 767 0348 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  

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Editor’s notes: Video content can be found on Youtube at https://youtu.be/RrZrPDgn9zE or on request at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Please take note of the appropriate language use. Avoid terms like “disabled people”, “wheelchair bound”, “suffering from or living with a disability” as these are considered offence. For more information, please request our Sawubona booklet, which outlines the correct language use with detailed explanations, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  

About the organisation

The QuadPara Association of South Africa (QASA) is considered the leading agency representing persons with spinal cord injury and physical disability in South Africa. QASA (est 1978) is an NPO of quadriplegics and paraplegics with the vision that all quadriplegics and paraplegics will live their lives to their full potential.

Mission: To improve lives by securing resources to advocate, educate, capacitate, support and mobilise.QASA strives to develop products, projects and services as well as lobbying, advocacy and prevention programs to develop capacity amongst its members to offer opportunities for workplace and societal integration.

QASA’s Flagship Project: the Education, Skills Development & Employment Project for young unemployed persons with physical disability. This project provides education, skills development, driver training and employment opportunities for young persons with physical disability. The Project received a Change Agent Recognition Award from SABPP in September 2019 for Employment Equity Development & Transformation. 

Note: The QASA website is currently under construction. For more news, information and updates, please visit our facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/QuadParaSA/) or contact us directly.