Trust at the wheel: KZN's blind navigator rally inspires community

IN A REMARKABLE display of trust and teamwork, the KwaZulu-Natal Blind and Deaf Society's (KZNBDS) fifth Blind Navigator Rally paired visually-impaired navigators with sighted drivers to navigate routes using only Braille instructions.

This event not only showcased extraordinary abilities but reminded us that with the right partnerships, no barrier was insurmountable.

The hum of engines mixed with cheers of encouragement at the rally was an inspiring display of inclusion, trust and teamwork.

The Blind Navigator Rally, first held in the 1970s, was revived by KZNBDS President Veetha Sewkuran to celebrate the legacy of ability and awareness.

The event pairs a blind or visually-impaired navigator with a sighted driver, challenging them to complete a set route using only Braille or large-print directions. Here, speed takes a backseat - the focus is precision, partnership, and trust.

“This rally reminds the public that disability does not mean inability. It’s a practical, joyful demonstration of inclusion and a celebration of teamwork that bridges understanding between sighted and blind participants,” said Sewkuran.

This year’s rally formed part of the KZN Auto Fest and drew huge public interest. Highlights included the outstanding performance of women participants with Neeta Jagaran and blind navigator Thandzile Zungu claiming second place.

First time participant Asha Harkoo described her experience as starting off “a bit harrowing” as she is partially-deaf.

Her partially sighted navigator assisted but it was a tricky learning experience, she said.

Harkoo claimed to be a nervous driver.

“It was an unfamiliar location to me. I drove off the planned route and had considered calling my husband,” she said.

She commended the KZNBDS for their work and advised other motorists not to take things for granted and to focus on the road when driving.

Winners of the competition - driver Shaur Maharaj, 30, of La Lucia, and blind navigator Lungisani Gasa, 42, of the Durban CBD, said it was an "unexpected victory".

They said they enjoyed each other’s company during the rally, especially the conversations along the way. For Gasa it was his second rally.

“Use your heart and your mind and take your time in what you want to do with anything in life,” he advised.

Maharaj spoke fondly of his experience with everybody at the rally and highlighted the passion that the blind and partially-sighted individuals had.

“It was incredibly sad that people from disadvantaged communities do not have access to services. Take Lungisani for example. He only started learning braille recently in his 40s.”

The rally also serves as a fundraising and awareness campaign, sustaining vital programmes amid shrinking subsidies. Partnerships with sponsors, volunteers, and corporate supporters keep the KZNBDS’s mission alive, while each event shines a light on everyday accessibility issues faced by the blind community.

Reflecting on the event’s success, Sewkuran said: “Every act of support - whether volunteering, sponsoring, or simply cheering from the sidelines - strengthens our vision of a more inclusive, compassionate KwaZulu-Natal.”

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