(L-R, top-bottom) Gale Shanabangu, Prathna Sookoo, Amrita Raniga, Monyebodi Ngoepe, Dr Biancha Mentoor, Melanie Da Costa
Women’s Month offers an opportunity to reflect not only on how far South Africa has come, but also on the people whose decisions continue to shape its future. In health, effective leadership has never been more important. The sector is navigating policy reform, changing patient needs, rapid technological advances and increasing pressure to deliver quality, sustainable care. Meeting these challenges requires sound governance, diverse perspectives and informed decision making.
At the Hospital Association of South Africa (HASA), we are proud that many of the individuals guiding our work are women whose experience spans legal, health policy, clinical and nursing. Our Chairperson, Gale Shabangu, leads a Board committed to supporting a private hospital sector that remains a trusted partner in strengthening South Africa’s health system.
Alongside her, women chair several of HASA’s key subcommittees, bringing specialist insight to the Association’s work. Alongside her role on the Board, Prathna Sookoochairs HASA’s Legal subcommittee, helping guide the Association’s work on legal and regulatory matters.
Amrita Raniga chairs the Research and Health Policy subcommittee, bringing deep expertise in health policy to HASA’s engagement on key sector issues. Dr Melanie Stander leads the Clinical Quality subcommittee, providing important clinical leadership on matters relating to healthcare quality and patient outcomes improvement.
As Chair of the Nursing subcommittee, Monyebodi Ngoepe contributes extensive nursing experience, ensuring that the perspectives of the profession remain integral to HASA’s work and priorities.
They are joined by other accomplished women whose contributions extend beyond HASA. Dr Biancha Mentoor continues to influence health policy through participation on a number of key structures, while former HASA Board Chair Melanie Da Costa appointment as Netcare’s incoming Chief Executive Officer reflects the depth of talent across the sector.
This is not simply about representation. Better decisions are made when different disciplines, experiences and perspectives come together around the same table. That diversity of thought informs policy and ultimately contributes to better outcomes for patients.
As South Africa continues to navigate a changing healthcare landscape, collaboration and capable leadership will remain essential. The women serving across HASA’s governance structures exemplify these qualities through their commitment, judgement and service. This Women’s Month, we proudly recognise these leaders and the many other women across the healthcare sector whose service, expertise and dedication continue to strengthen South Africa’s health system and improve the lives of the patients and communities it serves.
Prof Ryan Blumenthal, senior forensic pathologist at the University of Pretoria, delivered his inaugural professorial address, exploring how forensic pathology helps advance justice, public health and prevention.
Every day, forensic pathologists are called upon to answer one of society’s most difficult questions: how did this person die?
Reflecting on three decades of forensic practice, Prof Blumenthal’s inaugural professorial address explored how forensic pathology extends beyond determining the cause of death. As this address, titled ‘The Dead Teach the Living: Advancing Forensic Pathology for Justice, Prevention, and Public Health’, took place during National Science Month in July, Prof Blumenthal highlighted the vital role that science plays in advancing justice, protecting public health and improving society.
Drawing on his career as a forensic pathologist, researcher, educator, science communicator and lifelong student driven by an insatiable curiosity, his address examined how lessons learnt during autopsies have influenced courts, healthcare, public policy and scientific understanding. Prof Blumenthal explained that forensic pathology is a discipline that strengthens justice, informs public health, guides prevention strategies and generates evidence that can help prevent future deaths.
“Our work lies at the intersection of medicine, science, law, and public engagement, driven by a simple belief: the dead have much to teach the living,” he said. “Whether investigating deaths, advancing forensic pathology, researching lightning injuries, teaching students or communicating science to the public, our mission has always been to pursue the truth, serve justice and leave the profession stronger than we found it.”
Prof Blumenthal is recognised internationally for his contributions to forensic pathology. He has published extensively on electrocution, lightning injuries, suicide and the pathology of trauma, contributed chapters to nine international textbooks, and is an NRF C2-rated scientist.
His work has also reached audiences well beyond academia through bestselling books, documentaries and public engagement initiatives that have helped make forensic science more accessible. His book Autopsy – Life in the trenches with a forensic pathologist from Africa (Jonathan Ball Publishers), launched in August 2020, became a non-fiction bestseller in South Africa. It has since been translated into Afrikaans and Russian. His latest book, Trace (Tafelberg Publishers), was launched in April 2026 and explores real forensic case studies, demonstrating how autopsies can help create a better world by advancing science, justice and public health.
Research with impact beyond the courtroom
While forensic pathology is often associated with criminal investigations, Prof Blumenthal’s research highlights its much broader contribution to society. He argues that forensic pathologists could also be regarded as public health pathologists, as autopsies do more than determine the cause of death; they identify preventable risks, guide public health measures, improve safety and help prevent future deaths.
One of his research focus areas is suicide; he has studied forensic data from Pretoria to examine how suicide patterns have changed over 30 years.
A study of 1,820 possible and probable suicide cases in Pretoria between 2015 and 2021 found that the year after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, recorded the highest number of suicides during the study period. Suicide cases increased from 9.74% to 13.32% of all medico-legal admissions. The study identified important shifts in demographic patterns and methods of suicide, providing evidence to inform mental health policy and suicide prevention strategies in South Africa.
Another area of Prof Blumenthal’s internationally recognised expertise is lightning and electrical injuries. His research has advanced the understanding of the pathology and epidemiology of lightning injuries, explained how lightning causes injury and death, identified patterns unique to South Africa, and informed practical guidance for forensic practitioners, clinicians and emergency responders.
“I have devoted my career to understanding one of the deadliest forces of nature – lightning – transforming this phenomenon into forensic knowledge. It really is science in service of society.”
His work has also helped establish the fields of lightning medicine (keraunomedicine) and lightning pathology (keraunopathology) as recognised interdisciplinary areas of research spanning forensic science, engineering, clinical medicine and disaster medicine.
His research has also advanced the field of electropathology through studies of electrocution, strengthening forensic investigations by improving approaches to death scene investigations and autopsies involving electrical fatalities. By integrating the study of natural and man-made electrical injuries, his work has helped shape international reference texts used by forensic practitioners around the world.
During his address, Prof Blumenthal also highlighted research into toxicology, exploring how forensic investigations help interpret deaths involving substances such as methanol, fentanyl and ethanol.
He also spoke about his research into weapons and how forensic pathology helps explain the effects of different weapons on the human body. “Our research into weapons reminds us that the distinction between lethal and nonlethal is often misleading. From full-metal jacket mild steel core ammunition with its unpredictable wounding potential to so-called less-than-lethal weapons that can still prove fatal, our work as forensic pathologists reveals the gap between design intent and biological reality,” he said.
The future of forensic pathology
Prof Blumenthal described how advances in forensic radiology, molecular autopsy, toxicology, artificial intelligence, robotics and digital innovation are creating new opportunities to improve the accuracy, efficiency and safety of forensic investigations. He emphasised that these technological advances must be accompanied by stronger, more streamlined forensic systems, effective leadership, sound policy development and sustained investment if they are to benefit countries facing high burdens of trauma and violence.
He also highlighted the growing role of technology in forensic pathology. One example is the use of agile quadruped robots to assist with forensic death scene investigations in hazardous environments. His recent interdisciplinary research showed how these robots could help investigators safely document scenes and collect evidence while reducing risks to personnel, offering a glimpse into the future of forensic practice.
Prof Blumenthal concluded by outlining a vision for a more modern, resilient and technologically enabled forensic pathology service that delivers better justice, strengthens public health and serves all South Africans.
Koo Govender, Non-Executive Board Member and CEO of Publicis Groupe
The spirit of Christmas was alive and well at PinkDrive’s annual Christmas in July fundraiser dinner, recently held at the Indaba Hotel in Johannesburg. Twinkling fairy lights, festive décor, generous giving and heartfelt stories created an atmosphere of hope, reminding guests that the greatest gift anyone can give is the chance to save a life.
Supported by long-standing corporate partners, the themed ‘Night of Giving Back’ once again united business, cancer survivors and the community behind PinkDrive’s mission to make early cancer detection accessible to more South Africans.
Each year, this non-profit organisation (NPO) makes a measurable difference to thousands of lives. Relying on donations, corporate sponsorships and community support, it’s dedicated to the early detection of gender-related cancers in underserved communities. PinkDrives mobile units travel across the country, offering screenings such as mammograms, clinical breast examinations, pap smears, and PSA testing directly to people who might otherwise have limited access to healthcare.
The evening struck a thoughtful balance between festive celebration and meaningful reflection, honouring cancer survivors while remembering those who lost their lives to the disease. One of the most moving moments came through a testimonial video featuring women whose lives were saved thanks to PinkDrive’s mobile screening units. Their stories vividly illustrated the impact of accessible healthcare and reinforced the organisation’s commitment to taking cancer screening to communities where it is needed most.
The message was echoed by guest speaker Nicole Fuller, elite athlete and cancer survivor, who shared her personal journey following an early diagnosis that enabled her to avoid chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Inspired by her own experience, Fuller has since become the first South African to receive specialist training in cancer recovery and rehabilitation. Encouraging guests to prioritise regular screenings, she highlighted how early detection, combined with appropriate rehabilitation and physical activity, can significantly improve both recovery and long-term wellbeing.
An address by Koo Govender, Non-Executive Board Member and CEO of Publicis Groupe, spoke to the strength of PinkDrive’s leadership and the collective expertise steering its mission. Sound governance and committed partnerships, she noted, are what allow the NPO to keep expanding its reach and deepening its impact.
Closing the formal programme, PinkDrive founder and CEO Noelene Kotschan took guests back to where it all began: a single mobile screening unit, and a mission to reach those that healthcare so often overlooks. From that modest start, she traced PinkDrive’s growth into a nationally recognised force in cancer awareness and early detection. She closed with heartfelt thanks to all those whose continued support keeps that mission alive.
The fundraiser’s philanthropic spirit continued throughout the evening with raffle draws and a lively auction at the end. Guests bid enthusiastically for luxury prizes including diamond earrings and dream holiday experiences, helping to raise significant funds for PinkDrive’s awareness, education and mobile screening programmes.
To add to the Christmas spirit, spot prizes and hampers, generously sponsored by PinkDrive’s corporate partners, sent guests home with some festive spoils too. And as part of its ongoing support, Lee-Chem Laboratories, through its Mandy’s brand, ensured every guest received a generously filled Mandy’s goodie bag, adding another thoughtful touch to an evening centred on generosity, hope and community.
For Lee-Chem, that generosity runs deeper than a gesture on the night.
“You can’t put a price on the moment someone gets the all-clear because they were screened in time. That’s what keeps us partnering with PinkDrive year after year, and why we’re proud to stand with so many others who believe in that same mission,” says Bhavna Sanker, Marketing Manager at Lee-Chem Laboratories.
Because while Christmas may only appear on the calendar once a year, the spirit of giving and the opportunity to change someone’s future are always in season.
Four University of Pretoria (UP) staff members came out tops at the 2025/2026 National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF)-South32 Awards, South Africa’s premier science and innovation awards. Commonly known as the “Science Oscars”, the awards recognise exceptional contributions by individuals, teams, partnerships and organisations across a range of categories within South Africa’s science, engineering and technology sectors.
The 28th annual NSTF-South32 Awards gala event was held on 16 July 2026 simultaneously in Cape Town and Johannesburg, with a live broadcast online. This year’s awards were themed ‘Healthy Ageing’ – in line with the United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021 to 2030), a global collaboration to recognise the contribution of science, engineering and technology in improving the health and well-being of older people.
“This recognition speaks to the strength and breadth of the University of Pretoria’s research and innovation, and to our commitment to excellence across disciplines,” said Professor Sunil Maharaj, Vice-Principal: Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Education at UP. “The achievements of our researchers reflect the ambitions of our ThriveUP 2038 strategy, demonstrating how research and innovation can generate knowledge, develop solutions and create meaningful societal impact.”
This year’s recipients from UP are:
Prof Vukosi Marivate, Director of the African Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence and ABSA-UP Chair in Data Science, together with the TextAugment team and the Vuk’uzenzele Multilingual Corpus project, won the inaugural NSTF-SADiLaR Research Software: Human Language Technologies Award. This category recognises the development of open-source tools that help address data scarcity in under-resourced African languages, supporting advances in artificial intelligence and linguistic equity.
Prof Marivate and the TextAugment team’s work to develop open-source language technologies for under-resourced African languages speaks to the strategy’s ‘Digital Futures and Inclusive AI’ research theme, which focuses on building trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI), strengthening data infrastructures and advancing digital inclusion.
Prof Patricia Forbes of UP’s Department of Chemistry and editor-in-chief of the American Chemical Society’s (ACS) journal ACS Earth and Space Chemistry won the NSTF-Water Research Commission Award. She was recognised for developing analytical methods for detecting trace environmental pollutants and addressing long-standing monitoring challenges.
Prof Forbes’ pioneering work in detecting trace environmental pollutants aligns with the ‘Climate, Land, Water and Sustainability Transitions’ theme by supporting improved environmental monitoring and the sustainable management of natural resources.
In the health sciences, Prof Llewellyn Padayachy, Head of Neurosurgery and Director of UP’s Brain Tumour and Translational Neuroscience Centre (BTC@UP), won the NSTF-SAMRC Clinician-Scientist Award for developing point-of-care diagnostic tools for the early detection of brain tumours. Prof Padayachy’s development of non-invasive diagnostic tools for the early detection of brain tumours speaks to the ‘Planetary and One Health Horizons’ research theme, which advances precision health, health system innovation and improved health outcomes.
Prof Tjaart Krüger of UP’s Department of Physics was a joint winner of the TW Kambule-NSTF Researcher Award, along with Prof Musa Manzi, Director of the Seismic Research Centre at the University of the Witwatersrand. Prof Krüger was recognised for developing ultra-sensitive single-molecule instruments that help reveal how nature converts sunlight into energy, with potential applications for cleaner, more efficient energy technologies.
Prof Krüger’s work on ultra-sensitive instruments that deepen our understanding of how nature converts sunlight into energy contributes to the scientific foundations needed for cleaner, more efficient energy technologies, reinforcing the University’s commitment to research that supports sustainable futures.
In addition to staff members, first-year student Christene Beukes, who is studying applied plant and soil sciences within UP’s Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, was among the 22 students selected for the NSTF Brilliants Programme. The programme recognises top first-year students in the science, medicine and engineering fields from each of South Africa’s nine provinces. Beukes is also a recipient of the Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Merit Award.
The UP researchers who were nominated as finalists for the 2025/2026 NSTF-South32 Awards are:
Prof Brenda Wingfield – Department of Science, Technology and Innovation-National Research Foundation SARChI Chairholder: Fungal Genomics in UP’s Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology and the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute – was a finalist in the Lifetime Award category for her contributions to understanding the genetics and genomics of fungal plant pathogens and for her role in educating and mentoring generations of researchers.
Prof Hendrik Brink of the Department of Chemical Engineering received recognition in two categories. He was a finalist in both the Engineering Research Capacity Development Award and the NSTF-TIA Green Economy Award for building South Africa’s engineering research capacity through postgraduate training focused on scalable water treatment solutions.
Prof Rebecca Garland of the Department of Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology was acknowledged in the NSTF-TIA Green Economy Award category for research that strengthens the evidence base for air quality management in South Africa through an integrated approach.
The Department of Animal Science, led by Prof Carina Visser, was a finalist for the NSTF-Agricultural Research Council Award. The department was recognised for its interdisciplinary research on low-emissions sustainable livestock production, the genetic improvement of local breeds for adaptation, and the delivery of safe, welfare-friendly animal protein.
Shakira Hoosain, campaign strategist and senior copywriter, and editor of UP science platform Research Matters and RE.SEARCH magazine was a finalist in the Communication Award category. She was recognised for developing a multimedia science communication platform that translates academic research into accessible public knowledge through storytelling, media engagement and digital content.
“Every one of these accolades represents years of rigorous dedication,” Prof Maharaj said. “While we celebrate the individual achievements, they also reflect the collective effort of colleagues, students and partners across the University. We congratulate all our winners and finalists for the well-deserved recognition.”
New facility at head office and distribution centre brings primary healthcare directly to employees, marking a shift from wellness awareness to healthcare access
Dis-Chem has opened its first dedicated employee clinic, located at its head office and distribution centre in Midrand, giving employees direct access to primary healthcare services without leaving the workplace. The clinic was launched during Corporate Wellness Week and forms part of a planned rollout to additional distribution centres across the country.
Modelled on the Health Hub ‘store of the future’ recently launched at Melrose Arch which makes healthcare delivery the core offering, the facility offers a full suite of clinical services including routine consultations, maternal healthcare, immunisations and vaccinations, with escalation to a doctor where needed.
The launch reflects a broader shift in how South African employers approach workplace wellness. According to Nomfundo Vilakazi, Dis-Chem’s Director of People and Culture, corporate wellness has traditionally centred on annual screenings, wellness days and fitness initiatives, programmes that raise awareness but do little to remove the practical barriers that prevent people from seeking care.
“For many working South Africans, routine check-ups are postponed and early warning signs ignored, not because health isn’t valued, but because accessing care isn’t always convenient. The experience we create for our people directly influences the experience our people create for our customers,” says Vilakazi.
“If we want customers to experience care, expertise and seamless service, our employees, as our priority customers, must experience those same principles inside our organisation. If we expect our people to champion health, we must first make it possible for them to prioritise their own.”
The clinic launch coincides with another milestone for the company: the formal definition of its Employer Value Proposition (EVP), which reinforces our Holistic Healthcare pillar that distinguishes Dis-Chem as an employer of choice. The employee clinic, servicing over 2500 head office and distribution centre employees, is positioned as a tangible, living expression of that strategic EVP commitment rather than a standalone corporate benefit.
Lizeth Kruger, Clinic Executive at Dis-Chem, notes that research consistently shows that when employees can consult a healthcare professional without taking time off work or travelling long distances, they are more likely to seek preventative care, manage chronic conditions and address concerns before they become serious – benefits that extend to families and communities well beyond the workplace.
“This is not about treating illness,” adds Kruger. “Creating an environment where our people, customers and communities can thrive begins by caring for those who make that mission possible every day. When we invest in the health of our people, everyone benefits.”
The model also incorporates innovative virtual healthcare solutions. Where appropriate, and when the clinic nurse has managed the patient within the full scope of her practice, patients can be seamlessly connected to a doctor via a video medical consultation. This approach enhances access to comprehensive, holistic care by combining the on-site expertise of the nurse with the support and guidance of a medical practitioner, ensuring patients receive the right care at the right time.
Employees not based at the head office or distribution centre will continue to access care through Dis-Chem’s existing clinic network, ensuring healthcare remains within reach across the business. The company plans to extend the employee clinic model to additional distribution centres within the next year.
Every Mandela Day, South Africans answer the call to make a difference. Across the country, people dedicate 67 minutes to uplifting others by serving meals, painting schools, planting trees, mentoring young people, and supporting those in need.
But what if your 67 minutes could leave a legacy of hope? What if they could help save up to three lives? This Mandela Day, the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) is inviting South Africans to transform a simple act of generosity into a lifetime of impact by donating blood.
Unlike many acts of service, the impact of a blood donation doesn’t end when you leave the donor centre. It continues in emergency rooms, operating theatres, maternity wards and hospital beds across the country, where donated blood gives someone another chance to recover, celebrate another milestone, and experience another tomorrow.
Every lifesaving blood transfusion begins with one person making one simple decision: to show up.
That’s why SANBS is encouraging more South Africans, especially first-time donors to become part of a community of everyday heroes whose generosity gives strangers a second chance at life.
“Whether you have donated before or have always wondered if you should, Mandela Day is the perfect opportunity to take that first step,” says Monique Schreiner, Senior Manager: Donor Relations at SANBS. “The donation process is safe, simple and takes less than 67 minutes from start to finish. Yet those minutes could mean a lifetime for someone else.”
Nelson Mandela believed that each of us has the power to make a meaningful difference through service. Blood donors live that legacy every day – not for recognition or reward, but because they understand that, somewhere, someone is depending on the kindness of a stranger.
This Mandela Day, let your 67 minutes create a lifetime of impact.
When 12-year-old Eugene underwent a highly specialised facial reanimation procedure earlier this year, the surgery represented something profoundly human, the possibility of smiling for the first time.
Born with Moebius syndrome, a rare neurological condition that affects facial movement and expression, Eugene had spent his life unable to smile, blink properly or express emotion through facial movement. And while his story is emotionally powerful, it also shines a light on a far broader healthcare reality, the growing importance of highly specialised reconstructive surgery in restoring not only appearance but movement, function, dignity and quality of life.
At Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre (WDGMC), reconstructive microsurgery is helping redefine what is possible for patients facing some of the most complex medical challenges, from congenital conditions and cancer to severe trauma and tissue loss.
Often misunderstood as a field focused primarily on cosmetic procedures, reconstructive microsurgery sits at the intersection of surgical precision, innovation and long-term patient rehabilitation. These procedures frequently involve transplanting tissue, muscle and nerves from one part of the body to another and reconnecting blood vessels, often measuring less than two millimetres in diameter, under microscopic magnification.
Leading this work at WDGMC is Dr Dimitri Liakos, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon with fellowship training in reconstructive microsurgery and super microsurgery.
Dr Dimitri Liakos, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon with fellowship training in reconstructive microsurgery and super microsurgery.
“These procedures are not simply about appearance,” says Dr Liakos. “They are about restoring function, movement and ultimately helping patients regain parts of their lives that were lost or that they were born without.” In Eugene’s case, surgeons transferred functioning muscle together with its blood and nerve supply into the face, reconnecting these delicate structures under a microscope so movement could gradually return over time.
Eugene’s procedure was facilitated through the support of the Smile Foundation, which works to improve access to reconstructive surgery for children requiring specialised care.
“We are deeply grateful to Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre and Dr Dimitri Liakos for their dedication in supporting Eugene on his journey,” says Tarri Parfitt, CEO of Smile Foundation. “It is truly remarkable to open a world-class facility to this family and provide care at the highest level of expertise. Facial reanimation surgery is profoundly life-changing. For Eugene, it represents the possibility of expression, connection and a future he may never have imagined before. For Smile, it was also an invaluable opportunity for other surgeons to learn from such a rare and complex case, turning one surgery into the potential to help many more children like Eugene. We highly value the opportunity to work alongside Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre on cases such as this and look forward to helping many more children together.”
While these procedures are performed in highly specialised centres globally, access to this level of care remains limited in South Africa due to the advanced infrastructure, multidisciplinary expertise and years of specialised training required to perform them successfully.
For WDGMC, however, the ability to perform these surgeries forms part of a broader commitment to advancing highly specialised care within South Africa’s healthcare system while simultaneously strengthening academic medicine and specialist training.
As an academic hospital affiliated with the University of the Witwatersrand, WDGMC has become an important training environment for complex reconstructive microsurgery in South Africa. The hospital recently established the country’s first reconstructive microsurgery fellowship programme for qualified plastic surgeons, helping expand the number of specialists capable of performing these highly technical procedures.
“We have a responsibility not only to perform these surgeries, but to transfer the skill,” says Dr Liakos. “If we do not train future microsurgeons, access to this level of specialised care will remain limited.”
According to Dr Liakos, successful reconstructive microsurgery depends not only on surgical expertise but on building the right multidisciplinary environment around patients.
“To do these cases successfully, you need a dedicated team and an environment that functions seamlessly,” he explains. “Microsurgery is never a one-person effort. It is the nursing staff, anaesthetists, theatre teams and systems around you that make these outcomes possible.”
For surgeons working in the field, the impact of reconstructive microsurgery extends far beyond the operating theatre.
“These surgeries can take 10 or 12 hours. They are physically and emotionally demanding,” says Dr Liakos. “But when you step back and realise that what you are doing may change the course of a person’s life forever, it gives meaning to every moment spent in theatre.”
As WDGMC continues to build on its reconstructive microsurgery programme and the country’s first fellowship of its kind, the hospital is helping shape a future in which South African patients can access world-class reconstructive care close to home and in which the specialists capable of providing that care are trained locally.
Johannesburg, 25 June 2026 – As South Africa concludes Youth Month, the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) is celebrating a new generation of life-savers who are helping to secure the country’s blood supply through regular blood donation.
This year’s World Blood Donor Day was commemorated under the theme, “Give blood, give hope: together we save lives,” highlighting the critical role voluntary blood donors play in strengthening healthcare systems and saving lives. For SANBS, the theme has resonated strongly with a growing number of young South Africans who are choosing to become regular blood donors and make a meaningful contribution to their communities.
Recent SANBS data reveal that 43.27% of its donor panel comprises regular donors aged 16 to 30, reflecting a positive shift in donor demographics and a growing culture of volunteerism among young people.
Historically, blood donation has largely been sustained by older generations. However, SANBS has seen a notable increase in younger people showing interest in donating blood, helping to ensure a sustainable blood supply for future generations.
The organisation has also recorded encouraging growth in donor diversity, including an increase in black blood donors, contributing to a donor base that is increasingly representative of South Africa’s population.
Blood remains an essential resource in healthcare, as a stable blood supply enables hospitals and healthcare facilities to respond swiftly to emergencies and deliver life-saving treatment to patients in need. A reliable blood supply is therefore fundamental to the effective functioning of any healthcare system and the overall wellbeing of communities.
Commenting on the encouraging trend, SANBS Reputation and Communications Manager, Sifiso Khoza, said the growing participation of young people demonstrates the positive impact that youth can have on society.
“Young people have always been at the forefront of driving positive change in South Africa. We are encouraged by the growing number of youth who are choosing to become regular blood donors and embracing the opportunity to make a difference in others’ lives. Their commitment reflects the spirit of compassion, active citizenship, and hope that both World Blood Donor Month and Youth Month seek to celebrate.”
Khoza added that maintaining a stable blood supply depends on the continued support of both existing and first-time donors.
“Blood donation is one of the simplest yet most impactful ways to give back to society. Every donation has the potential to save lives, and we encourage more young South Africans to join this community of life-savers. By donating blood, they are helping to build a healthier, stronger, and more resilient South Africa.”
As Youth Month draws to a close, SANBS is calling on eligible South Africans to become regular blood donors and play their part in ensuring that blood is available for patients whenever and wherever it is needed.
To become a blood donor, individuals must be between the ages of 16 and 75 years, weigh at least 50kg, lead a safe and healthy lifestyle, and be in good general health.
For Bafana Manyisa, strength doesn’t look the way most men are taught it should. It’s not toughness or stoicism or an unshakeable composure. Strength, he says, looks like sitting with a patient who needs reassurance. It looks like supporting a new overwhelmed father navigating the parenting journey for the first time. It looks like simply being present for your family when they need you most.
As a registered nurse, Operational and Outreach Team Leader at Dis-Chem and Dis-Chem Baby City Clinics, husband and father, Manyisa has spent his career learning what few South African men are encouraged to admit: that care is one of the most demanding forms of strength there is.
From mechanics to healthcare
Raised in Mohlakeng on Johannesburg’s West Rand, Manyisa’s path to nursing was unconventional. His childhood dream was mechanical engineering. He spent his early years studying motor mechanics, working in workshops, enjoying the technical precision of the work. But something was missing.
“I realised that what fulfilled me most was helping people,” he explains.
It took his older sister, a primary healthcare nurse practitioner to recognise what he didn’t yet see in himself, a natural capacity for compassion. She urged him to apply for the R425 nursing programme. “From the moment I started training, everything aligned,” he says. “I fell in love with nursing because it gave me the opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives, especially during their most vulnerable moments.”
The values that shaped his approach to healthcare were rooted long before he entered any clinical setting. Growing up in Mohlakeng taught him resilience, humility, and the importance of community lessons he says no textbook could replicate. “Our community taught us to look out for one another,” he reflects. “Simple acts of kindness, respect for elders, and serving others became part of who I am.”
The weight of witnessing
Those values were tested most severely during his time at Eyethu Yarona Clinic under the Gauteng Department of Health. Faced with water shortages, electricity interruptions and stock limitations, the clinic ran on compassion and improvisation. It was difficult work in difficult conditions, yet it was there that Manyisa experienced one of the defining moments of his career.
After helping an elderly patient collect her chronic medication, she paused and told him something that has stayed with him ever since: “You make a difference in our lives. You don’t just give us medication, you treat us with care.”
That moment crystallised his understanding of nursing and later, fatherhood. “It’s not about treatment alone,” says the father of one. “It’s about dignity, empathy, and human connection.”
A different kind of strength
Working in healthcare has given Manyisa an intimate view of the pressures South African men carry in silence. Financial stress. The relentless expectation to provide. The demand to always appear strong. He sees men shoulder these burdens alone, asking for nothing, showing nothing.
His message to them is direct: asking for help is not weakness. Vulnerability is not failure.
“Too many men believe they have to carry everything on their own,” he says. “Real strength comes from being honest, seeking support when you need it, and taking care of yourself so that you can take care of those who depend on you.”
The qualities that make a good healthcare professional – empathy, resilience, patience, and care are, he believes, the very same qualities that make a good father. This Father’s Day, he’s actively encouraging more men to recognise this, to become more involved in their families’ health and wellbeing. To support partners during pregnancy. To take an active role in their children’s healthcare journeys. To show up.
The strongest thing
“People may forget what you said or what you did,” Bafana reflects. “But they never forget how you made them feel. Nursing teaches you resilience and compassion in ways no salary ever could.”
His story challenges a narrow version of masculinity that has done South African men no favours. Men can be leaders and caregivers. They can be strong and compassionate. They can provide and nurture.
Perhaps, he suggests, the strongest thing a man can do is simply care.
The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) and J’Something Bring Blood Donation into the Culture
What if saving a life was part of your weekend plans?
On 6 June 2026, music, culture, community and purpose will come together at Artistry JHB as the South African National Blood Service (SANBS), musician and entrepreneur J’Something host One Day x SANBS Community Blood Drive a unique event designed to make giving blood more accessible, engaging and relevant to a new generation of South Africans.
Every day, blood donors help create more tomorrows for patients across the country. They make it possible for someone to celebrate another birthday, return home to their family, pursue their dreams, or simply get a second chance at life. Yet many South Africans who are eligible to donate have never taken that first step.
Through this purpose-driven partnership, SANBS and J’Something are bringing blood donation into spaces where people naturally connect, create and inspire one another. By blending culture, creativity and community impact, the One Day x SANBS Community BloodDrive aims to show that donating blood is not only life-saving it’s something everyone can be part of.
The result is more than a blood drive. It’s a day party with purpose, where every donation has the potential to save up to three lives.
Secure your spot at the blood drive by completing the quick eligibility screening below.
Whether you’re donating blood or simply coming through to support the movement, expect good music, great energy and a community united for a meaningful cause.
