SANBS urges South Africans to start 2026 by donating blood as stocks run low

BLEEDING can be a pleasant experience. Yes, read that again; it can be a fulfilling, endearing experience to have blood leave your body … in a controlled environment, of course.

What I am referring to is blood donation. 

I have been a donor for a few years, and just knowing that I have been, in a small way, holding out a lifeline for someone in a life or death situation is pretty humbling. The inconvenience of a needle prick and a few minutes doesn’t seem so bad, when you consider the bigger picture.

In my experience, the staff at the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) in Kimberley have always been efficient, friendly and professional. Yes, they are there to take a pint of blood from you, but there is a constant reassurance that your wellbeing is important to them. So if you have been weighing the pros and cons of becoming a donor, maybe what I have just said is something to add to the consideration.

As it turns out, as South Africans ease into the new year, SANBS is appealing to the public to start 2026 by donating blood, as national blood stocks remain below optimal levels following the festive season.

January is historically a challenging period for blood collections. Holiday travel, reduced workplace and campus blood drives, and disrupted donor routines over December all contribute to a noticeable drop in donations, while the demand for blood remains constant. 

Emergency medical care, childbirth, trauma cases and the treatment of chronic conditions continue year-round, placing sustained pressure on available blood supplies.

Behind these numbers are real people — mothers, fathers, children and families in hospitals across the country — whose recovery, and in some cases survival, depends on the availability of donated blood.

At the start of this year, SANBS is particularly encouraging donors with O and B blood groups who are due to donate to visit donor centres early in the year. O-negative blood is critical in emergencies, while group B plays a key role in maintaining balanced stock levels. 

That said, SANBS emphasises that all blood groups are needed and welcome.

January is a challenging month for collections, but it is also an opportunity,” says Thandi Mosupye, Senior Manager: Marketing, Communication and Brand at SANBS. “If donors make time to donate early in the year, we can quickly stabilise the national blood supply and ensure hospitals continue caring for patients without interruption.”

A single blood donation takes only minutes and can save up to three lives. SANBS is urging all eligible donors to visit their nearest donor centre or mobile blood drive and help ensure a strong start to the year for patients who depend on blood transfusions.