Saving Lives Through Organ Donation: The Gift of Life That Still Needs A Voice
Written by on October 21, 2025
By: Nobuhle ‘LaGama’ Zozo
Thousands of people around the world are waiting for an organ donation that could save their lives. Sadly, children often wait up to two and a half times longer than adults to receive one. According to the Organ Donation Foundation, in South Africa alone, over 4,300 people are currently on the waiting list, yet fewer than 0.3% of the population are registered organ donors.
What is organ donation?
Organ donation is a life-saving medical procedure in which one person donates an organ or tissue to another whose own organs have failed due to illness or injury. In South Africa, there are two main pathways for organ donation:
Living Donation
A living donor is a healthy individual aged 18 or older who voluntarily donates an organ or part of one. Commonly donated organs include one kidney or a portion of the liver. Some donors may also give part of their pancreas, intestines, or one lung.
Deceased Donation
This occurs when a person has been declared brain-dead by two independent doctors, one of whom must have more than five years of experience. A deceased donor can donate several organs, including the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas, and intestines, potentially saving up to eight lives. Families play a vital role in this process, as they give the final consent for the donation to proceed. Despite the life-changing potential of organ donation, conversations about it rarely happen at home.
Many families feel unprepared to make such a decision during a crisis because organ donation is often seen as a sad, uncomfortable, or even taboo topic. Medical expert Professor Mignon McCulloch describes organ donation in South Africa as a “silent Cinderella”, a cause that only gains attention when someone urgently needs an organ. This silence contributes to the ongoing gap between supply and demand.
That’s why open dialogue and awareness are so important. Discussing your wishes with friends and family and learning more about how to become a registered donor could one day help save a life. Be the reason some get a second chance at life.
