QASA Education Fund for Wheelchair Users

Written by Keagan HendricksStaff Writer (Unisa Alumnus)

Reviewed & verified by Naledi KhumaloSenior Admissions and Bursaries EditorVerified

The QuadPara Association of South Africa (QASA) is a non-profit and public benefit organisation for people with quadriplegia and paraplegia, with its head office in Gillitts, KwaZulu-Natal. Through its Education Fund, QASA gives bursaries to quadriplegic and paraplegic members to study a course of their choice at an institution of their choice. QASA publishes no application form, value or closing date for the fund online; the route in is through QASA membership and a query to its head office or a regional association.

What the Education Fund pays for

QASA describes the fund’s aim as giving its service users access to funding for education or skills training at recognised, accredited institutions, so that they can become employable or self-employed. The wording covers more than university degrees: a short skills course or a college qualification fits the aim as long as the provider is accredited. QASA’s 2025 annual report thanks Red Bull for its continued support in paying for members’ studies. Neither the report nor the website gives the number of bursaries, an amount per student, or which costs (fees, books, transport, assistive technology) are covered.

The same page on the QASA site describes a separate Sports Fund, which helps wheelchair users take part in adapted sports. That fund is for sporting activity, not study.

Becoming a QASA member first

The Education Fund is for QASA’s own members. Membership is for life. Under QASA’s 2023 constitution, quadriplegics and paraplegics are full members, and other people can only be associate members. How to join depends on where the applicant lives:

• QASA has three affiliated regional associations. Anyone living in a province with a regional association must join that association, which automatically makes them a QASA member.
• People in provinces without one can apply to QASA directly. The 2025 annual report names KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State, the Northern Cape, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape as provinces where QASA supports people directly.

The 2026 membership application form is emailed to secretary@qasa.co.za. It asks for the applicant’s ID number, province, highest level of education, disability (paraplegic, quadriplegic or tetraplegic), the wheelchair used, the rehabilitation hospital, and employment status.

Asking about a bursary

The Education and Sports Fund page has a query form on which “Education/Sports Fund” can be ticked. QASA says the fund is promoted through its regional associations and social media, so members in a region should also ask their regional office. Head office contacts:

• email: info@qasa.co.za
• phone: 031 767 0352 or 031 767 0348, Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 16:00
• address: 17 Hamilton Crescent, Gillitts, KwaZulu-Natal, 3610

Because QASA does not publish the fund’s value, wheelchair users should apply for other disability funding at the same time. Options include the Bradshaw LeRoux bursary for disabled students, the Excel@Uni disability bursary and the disability support offered through the NSFAS bursary.

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