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[FILE IMAGE]: Doctors during a pediatric donor surgery.
The Department of Health is embarking on a massive campaign to encourage members of the public to donate body organs and tissues in a bid to save lives.
Department’s spokesperson, Forster Mohale, says there are more than 2,000 patients awaiting organ and tissue donors across the country.
He says members of society can donate organs while still alive or issue instructions to have their organs donated after they’ve passed away.
The department says there’s much reluctance in donating organs due to cultural and religious stereotypes.
“Definitely, there are over 2,500 people who are on the active waiting list to receive organ or tissue in South Africa. So, this is the only list that we know. So, we’ve realized that, because of lack of knowledge and cultural or religious barriers, which we believe that, as the Department of Health, working with our partner organizations like Organ Donor Foundation and other organizations, we can be able to change people’s perceptions around the issue of tissue and organ donation and save lives,” says Mohale.
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By strengthening organ and tissue donation and transplantation systems, we build a future where no life is lost waiting. 💚🫀#OrganDonationSavesLives pic.twitter.com/MDNsBTKTPy
— National Department of Health (@HealthZA) July 20, 2025
