Meet the Retina South Africa Team and Leadership

Manny Moodley

Chief Executive Officer

Manny Moodley is an admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa and was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Retina South Africa in early 2025. He has been involved with the organisation for nearly three decades.

Manny was diagnosed with Stargardt’s disease (a form of macular degeneration) at the age of nine and joined Retina South Africa soon afterwards. Over the years, he has served the organisation in various leadership roles, including Chairperson from 2021 to 2025.

He is also Vice-Chairperson of the Cape Town Society for the Blind and Vice Chair of Retina International’s Board of Directors. Manny is passionate about human rights, disability inclusion and empowering people with vision loss to live independent and fulfilling lives.

Caryl Baum

Vice Chairperson

Caryl Baum is a retired attorney who practised law for more than 40 years. She has been living with age-related macular degeneration for over a decade and now volunteers her time supporting Retina South Africa’s work.

Caryl currently serves as Vice Chairperson and represents Retina South Africa on the Consumer Committee of the South African Council for the Blind.

Jean Bowler

Treasurer

Jean Bowler has served as Treasurer of Retina South Africa since 1990. A financial director and financial manager of several companies, she has provided dedicated financial oversight to the organisation for more than three decades.

Although neither Jean nor her family members have a retinal condition, her long-standing commitment to Retina South Africa and its mission has been invaluable.

Claudette Medefindt

Secretary

Claudette Medefindt has been a full-time volunteer with Retina South Africa since 1980. She serves as National Secretary and Head of Science.

Claudette is a retired Deputy President of Retina International and lectures locally and internationally on retinal conditions. She provides information, support and peer mentorship to newly diagnosed patients. Claudette lives with Retinitis Pigmentosa.

Mariza Jürgens

Member of Management Committee and Chair of Fundraising and Marketing

Mariza Jurgens holds a BA (Hons) in International Politics from Nelson Mandela University and is a prominent advocate within South Africa’s disability community. She has played an active role in Retina South Africa for many years, serving as the former Chairperson of Retina South Africa Northern Gauteng and as National Chair and National Vice Chair.

Her work extends into national advocacy and policy development. Mariza has contributed to initiatives such as the Working Group on Affordable and Accessible ICT for Persons with Disabilities and the Subcommittee on Taxation Matters for Persons with Disabilities.

She currently serves on the Technical Committee on ICT Equipment for Persons with Disabilities of the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) and is a member of the Consumer Advisory Panel of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), where she represents persons with disabilities. Mariza lives with severe vision loss due to Cone- Rod Dystrophy.

Anton van Rooyen

Member of the Management Committee and Governance Committee

Anton is a long-standing member of the Management Committee of Retina South Africa and previously served as Vice Chair. He has contributed to various committees within Retina South Africa for over 40 years, demonstrating a deep and ongoing commitment to the organisation and its mission.

A specialist in accessible technology, Anton is passionate about ensuring that assistive solutions are available to all South Africans living with low vision.

Anton lives with advanced Stargardt disease.

Renesh Singh

Non-Executive Director

Renesh Singh is a technologist with experience across several IT sectors, including architecture, development and security.

Having lived with a retinal condition since the age of eight, Renesh is passionate about using technology to improve accessibility and independence for people with vision loss. He actively researches assistive technologies and works with organisations and employers to advocate for greater inclusion in the technology sector.

Ferdi Danzfuss

Management Committee member and Chairman of the IT Steering Committee

Ferdie has been a member of Retina South Africa since 2000 and currently serves as Chairman of the IT Steering Committee. He holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Pretoria and has over 30 years of experience as a professional software developer.

As the founder of Mobilica, he specialises in mobile application development and has a particular passion for accessibility technology. He is actively involved in developing AI-powered assistive solutions for blind and visually impaired South Africans.

Ferdie lives with Stargardt disease, which informs and strengthens his commitment to advancing accessible technology.

Pieter Lindeque

Member of Management Committee and Chair of Youth Committee

Pieter Lindeque is a Special Needs Teacher based in Table View, with a strong passion for supporting and empowering individuals facing challenges.

Diagnosed with Stargardt disease in 2010, Pieter has overcome significant obstacles to get to where he is today. His personal journey has shaped his resilience, empathy, and commitment to helping others navigate similar experiences.

Pieter is driven to use his experiences to support those who may not have had the same level of guidance or encouragement growing up. He is passionate about ensuring that anyone living with visual impairment, or facing other challenges, feels supported, understood, and never alone.

At the heart of his work is a simple but powerful belief: everyone deserves to have someone in their corner.

Denise Jacobs

Operations & Administrative Assistant

Denise has been involved with Retina South Africa since the 1990s, when she and her family volunteered as marshals at the Ride for Sight and Run for Sight events. She officially joined the organisation in 2006, dividing her time between Retina SA and a busy legal practice.

With her strong legal and administrative background, attention to detail, and interest in information and technology, Denise plays an important role in our work. In addition to supporting the governance sub-committee and contributing to fundraising efforts, her primary responsibility is managing our secure patient registry and guiding patients through the genetic counselling and testing process.

Linsay Engelbrecht

Head of Special Events and Para Sport Development

Linsay Engelbrecht leads Special Events and Para Sport Development at Retina South Africa, where she plays a key role in creating inclusive, empowering opportunities for people living with visual impairments.

A dedicated South African paratriathlete, Linsay lives with Stargardt disease and brings both personal insight and professional passion to her work. She is deeply committed to breaking down barriers in sport, helping individuals who are blind or visually impaired take their first steps towards participation, confidence, and achievement.

Linsay works closely with Retina members to support, encourage, and guide them onto the start line, whether they are new to sport or pursuing competitive goals. Her approach is rooted in inclusion, community, and the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to experience the physical and emotional benefits of sport.

Achievements:

South African Paratriathlon Champion (2021)
African Champion (2021)

Karen Fitzwilliam

Head of Education and Advocacy

Karen Denton is a South African educator and advocate, specialising in retinal health, low-vision support, and patient empowerment. She serves as Head of Education and Advocacy at Retina South Africa, where she leads national education programmes, webinars, workshops, and outreach initiatives aimed at improving understanding of retinal diseases, vision health, and the lifestyle factors that impact sight. She contributes to awareness campaigns and works collaboratively with partners to strengthen patient education and support services across the country.

Karen is also a co-founder of the Low Vision Centre of Learning, a multidisciplinary platform established to bridge gaps in low-vision services by providing comprehensive education, resources, and training for professionals, individuals with vision impairment, and their families. Through course development and public engagement, she brings together clinical knowledge and lived experience to promote practical, accessible support.

Always both a keen student and a dedicated teacher, Karen’s professional path was profoundly shaped when her toddler was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. This life-changing experience led her into a career in Diabetes Education spanning more than 40 years. Her extensive qualifications — including General Nursing, Midwifery, Operating Theatre Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Education, Psychiatric Nursing, and a Degree in Psychology — uniquely positioned her to work at the intersection of clinical care, education, and counselling.

During her career in diabetes care, Karen lectured internationally and held significant leadership roles, including Chair of Diabetes South Africa, Chair of Pan-Africa Diabetes Educators (for five years), and Chair of the South African Diabetes Educators (for eight years). She later spent eight years working and continuing her studies in the Middle East, further expanding her international experience.

Upon returning to South Africa, Karen reintegrated into the healthcare sector with a strong focus on vision health, becoming a founding member of the Low Vision Centre of Learning and joining Retina South Africa in her current leadership role.

Grounded in both professional expertise and personal experience, Karen is committed to empowering people affected by vision impairment through accessible information, practical guidance, and advocacy — promoting independence, inclusion, and improved outcomes for vision-challenged communities.

Sandy Brown

Social Media Manager

Sandy is Retina South Africa’s Social Media Manager, a role she has held for the past six years. She leads the organisation’s digital communications, community engagement, and online awareness initiatives, helping to connect and support individuals affected by retinal conditions.

Natley Reddy

Administrator

I have been serving as Administrator at Retina South Africa since 2025. In this role, I oversee organisational operations and support of initiatives that advance the organisation’s mission.

Lindiwe Maredi

Social Worker

Lindiwe is a committed and compassionate Social Worker who obtained her Social Work degree from the University of Johannesburg in 2011. She has 13 years of experience in the field. Throughout her career, Lindiwe has demonstrated a strong commitment to improving the well-being of individuals and communities. She has extensive experience working with both children and adults across diverse groups, particularly those affected by inherited retinal conditions. Her role is to provide psychosocial support to people living with inherited retinal conditions, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration.

Her approach is grounded in a person-centred framework, ensuring that everyone living with retinal conditions receives support tailored to their unique circumstances. She achieves this by developing a meaningful understanding of each individual’s lived experiences, needs, challenges, and aspirations.

Lindiwe believes that having low vision does not mark the end of one’s abilities. In today’s technologically advanced world, the growing availability of assistive devices empowers people with low vision to live more independently and pursue their full potential. Guided by this belief, she is deeply convinced that everyone, regardless of their circumstances, has the opportunity to grow, thrive, and become the best version of themselves.

Victoria Musimbo

Social Worker

Victoria is a qualified Social Worker with 10 years of experience in the field. She has been working full-time with Retina South Africa since 2021, providing dedicated support to individuals and families affected by retinal conditions.

Her role includes offering psychosocial counselling, education, and condition-specific information, as well as referring patients to relevant service providers. Victoria also assists with disability grant applications and advocates for equal access by engaging with schools, institutions of higher education, and workplaces, in line with constitutional and legislative rights.

Magda van der Merwe

Fundraising and Marketing Assistant

After retiring in 2018 following a 43‑year career in the financial industry, I embarked on a new journey in 2024 with Retina SA. As a fundraising and marketing assistant, I am dedicated to helping the organisation expand its reach and build the resources it needs to make a lasting impact.

Meet The People

Meet the People Behind Retina South Africa

National Management Committee