South Africa’s ability to provide life-saving stem cell transplants could come under increasing pressure in the coming years unless more young people step forward to register as donors.
This warning comes from the South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR), which says its donor database is ageing rapidly at a time when younger donors are urgently needed to support patients battling blood cancers and other serious blood disorders.
As the organisation marks 35 years of operation, it is intensifying efforts to recruit a new generation of donors capable of helping meet future demand for stem cell transplants both locally and internationally.
An Ageing Donor Base Raises Concerns
According to the SABMR, almost half of its active stem cell donors are older than 46 years, while only a small percentage of registered donors fall within the crucial 16 to 25 age category.
The registry’s median donor age has now reached 44, highlighting a growing imbalance that could affect the availability of suitable donor matches in the future.
Medical experts generally favour younger stem cell donors because younger cells are associated with better transplant outcomes and improved recovery prospects for patients.
As donors age, they eventually become medically ineligible or reach the upper age limit for donation, meaning they can no longer be called upon if a patient requires a match.
Without a steady influx of younger recruits, the donor pool naturally begins to shrink.
Why Younger Donors Matter
Stem cell transplantation remains one of the most important treatment options for patients diagnosed with conditions such as:
Leukaemia
Lymphoma
Multiple myeloma
Aplastic anaemia
Certain inherited blood disorders
For many patients, a stem cell transplant represents their best chance of survival.
While some individuals are fortunate enough to find a matching donor within their own family, many must rely on unrelated donors identified through national and international registries.
Finding a compatible match can be extremely difficult. In some cases, patients may have only a one-in-100,000 chance of locating a suitable donor, making every new registration potentially life-saving.
The SABMR says younger donors play a particularly important role because they are more likely to meet the health requirements needed for donation and are often preferred by transplant specialists.
More Than Just Numbers
Although increasing donor registrations is a priority, registry officials stress that recruitment is not simply about growing numbers.
The organisation is focused on finding healthy, committed donors who can be contacted and traced if a patient match is identified years after registration.
Current recruitment data shows that not everyone who signs up ultimately remains eligible to donate.
Medical screenings, health changes and difficulties contacting donors can all reduce the number of individuals available when needed.
As a result, maintaining a reliable and engaged donor base has become just as important as recruiting new volunteers.
Building a More Representative Registry
Another major challenge facing the registry is demographic representation.
South Africa’s population is one of the most diverse in the world, and successful stem cell matching often depends on genetic similarities linked to ancestry and ethnicity.
The SABMR says its database does not yet fully reflect the country’s demographic profile, which can make finding matches more difficult for some patients.
To address this, the organisation is working to recruit donors from a broader range of communities and backgrounds.
A more representative registry increases the likelihood that patients from all population groups will find suitable donor matches when they need them most.
The Cost of Saving Lives
Although registering as a donor is completely free for volunteers, the process comes with significant costs for the registry itself.
Each donor recruitment kit, including the collection swab and laboratory testing required to determine tissue compatibility, can cost up to R850.
These expenses are covered entirely by the SABMR.
As a non-profit organisation, the registry does not receive government funding and instead relies on donations, fundraising campaigns and corporate partnerships to sustain its operations.
The financial challenge means that every donor recruitment drive requires careful planning and ongoing community support.
Reaching the Next Generation
Recognising the need to attract younger donors, the SABMR has expanded its outreach efforts at schools, colleges and universities.
The organisation has also embraced digital platforms and social media campaigns designed to connect with younger audiences.
Rather than focusing solely on statistics, many of these campaigns highlight the personal stories of patients whose lives depend on finding a matching donor.
By sharing real experiences, the registry hopes to help young South Africans understand the profound impact a simple registration can have.
Behind every transplant search is a person, a family and a community hoping for a second chance.
Understanding Stem Cell Donation
Despite its importance, many people remain unfamiliar with the stem cell donation process.
Contrary to common misconceptions, most stem cell donations today do not involve surgery.
In many cases, stem cells are collected through a process similar to donating blood, where cells are extracted from the bloodstream using specialised equipment.
The procedure is generally safe, and donors can typically return to their normal activities shortly afterwards.
For patients awaiting treatment, however, the donation can be life-changing.
A Call to Action During Youth Month
As South Africa observes Youth Month, the SABMR is encouraging healthy individuals between the ages of 16 and 35 to consider registering as stem cell donors.
The organisation hopes to recruit at least 4,000 eligible new donors annually over the next decade in order to strengthen the country’s donor pool and secure its long-term sustainability.
More than three decades after its establishment in 1991, the SABMR continues to connect patients with potential donors across South Africa and around the world.
Its message is simple but urgent: the future of stem cell transplantation depends on today’s generation stepping forward.
For thousands of patients facing life-threatening illnesses, a single donor registration could one day mean the difference between life and death.
