About us
Igniting the Flame of Potential
To promote the human rights of persons with epilepsy.
From the Cape to Limpopo
One organisation, six regions
Six regional branches and a national office. Wherever you are, there is somewhere to phone — though not every service runs in every region, and we would rather say so than promise what we cannot deliver.
Who we are
Epilepsy South Africa was established in 1967, originally as the South African National Epilepsy League, and adopted its present name and identity in 2002. It remains South Africa's only national non-profit organisation dedicated specifically to epilepsy.
The organisation works through a national office and six regional branches, delivering services where people actually are — in clinics, schools, workplaces, community organisations and residential care settings. Where there is no branch, the national office answers directly.
What we believe
A world where people with epilepsy are included and accepted without discrimination.
Epilepsy is a treatable neurological disorder. The most difficult challenges for people with epilepsy are not medical at all — they are exclusion from school, from work and from social life, built on misinformation. We treat that as the core problem rather than a side effect.
What we do
- Counselling — for people with epilepsy and for their families.
- Support groups — practical experience with people sharing your experience.
- Information about epilepsy — awareness sessions and seizure first-aid training for schools, clinics, employers and community organisations.
- Social work services — practical support for individuals and families.
- Advocacy and research — defending rights in education, employment and healthcare.
- Protected work opportunities — available in some regions.
- Residential care — accommodation and support, available in some regions.
The same list appears on Find support, where you can also see which office covers your province. Not every service runs in every region.
Accountability and governance
Epilepsy SA is registered as a non-profit organisation (NPO 001-911) and as a public benefit organisation (PBO 930007484). It is governed by a national board with branch-level management committees.
Annual reports and audited financial statements are available from the national office on request.
How we handle your information
We collect the minimum personal information possible, and this site uses no advertising trackers. The full privacy policy sets out exactly what we keep and why.
How we keep health information accurate
Every health page on this site shows the date its content was last checked against current guidance from the World Health Organization and other recognised sources. Where a page has also been read and approved by a clinician, we name them. Where that has not happened yet, the page says so rather than implying an approval that does not exist.
You can rely on what is published here as accurate, carefully written general information. It is not a substitute for advice from your own doctor, and we say that on every page for the same reason.
Your story belongs here
The strongest argument against stigma is a real person telling their own story on their own terms. We want this site to carry the voices of South Africans with epilepsy — with informed consent, with dignity, and with the right to withdraw at any time. If you would like to tell yours, talk to us.
National office
78 East Geduld Road, Geduld, Springs, 1560, Gauteng
+27 79 119 3607 ·
info@epilepsy.org.za