Organ Donor Foundation of SA

07/10/2026

DO ORGAN AND TISSUE DONATION DIFFER?

Yes, they do. Tissue donation can take place hours or even days after death. So even if your organs cannot be used anymore, your tissue often can.

You can help up to 50 people by donating your corneas, skin, bone, tendons and heart valves. A medical professional can recover the tissue even if the body is already in the mortuary.

When you register as an organ donor, you automatically become a tissue donor as well. If you only want to donate your organs, but not your tissue, you must let your family know so that they can inform the transplant or tissue coordinator of your wishes.

To register as an organ and tissue donor, please visit www.odf.org.za and complete the short registration form. It is quick, easy, and free!

07/10/2026

CAN I CHOOSE TO DONATE ONLY CERTAIN ORGANS?

Yes, you can. If, for instance, you want to donate all your organs except your heart, you can do so. But you must let your family know which organ(s) you do not wish to donate.

This is incredibly important because it will be up to your loved ones to inform the doctors or transplant coordinator (a medical professional who handles the transplant process) that you only want to donate certain organs.

To register as an organ donor, please visit www.odf.org.za and complete the short registration form. It is quick, easy, and free!

29/09/2026

WHY MUST YOUR FAMILY KNOW YOUR WISHES?

If your family has no idea that you want to be an organ donor, they might say no when asked for consent to donate your organs. That is why it is so important to have a conversation with your loved ones about your decision to become an organ donor.

Discussing your wishes with your family members will give you the opportunity to address any concerns or objections they may have. It is crucial that the people close to you agree with your decision because their consent will be needed after your death. If one of your loved ones says no, the whole process will be stopped, and the donation will not take place.

To register as an organ donor, please visit www.odf.org.za and complete the short registration form.

18/09/2026

WHAT IS A TRANSPLANT COORDINATOR?

A medical professional who organises the transplant process. They are the first person a doctor or nurse phones when a potential donor becomes available.

The transplant coordinator is the one who will speak to your family to ask for consent to donate your organs. They will arrange for an outside team of transplant doctors to come and collect the organs. The coordinator will then find the quickest way to transport the organs to the relevant transplant centres and work with them to ensure that the organs can be transplanted as soon as they arrive.

The organs are only usable for a few hours after donation, so the whole transplant process must be perfectly coordinated.

To register as an organ donor, visit www.odf.org.za and complete the short registration form. Remember to tell your family that you want to be an organ donor because without their consent, no donation can take place.

18/09/2026

CAN I DECIDE WHO GETS MY ORGANS?

Yes, you can decide who gets your organs (kidney or partial liver) if you are a living donor. However, if you donate your organs after death, they will be allocated according to medical need, urgency, and compatibility via national transplant systems.

The organs will go to people on the waiting list who are the closest match to maximise the chances of a successful outcome. Things like blood type, age, height, weight, and tissue compatibility will also be taken into account when deciding who will receive the organs.

If you are not registered as an organ donor yet, please visit www.odf.org.za and complete the short registration form. It is quick, easy, and free!

Remember to tell your loved ones that you want to be an organ donor because without their consent, no donation can take place.

15/09/2026

CAN I REGISTER IF I HAVE A CHRONIC ILLNESS?

Yes, you can. Having a chronic illness does not automatically disqualify you as a potential organ donor.

We encourage everyone to register as donors because the doctors will decide which organs can be used at the time of death. They will inspect the organs and do tests to determine if they are safe and viable for transplantation.

If you are not registered as an organ donor yet, please visit www.odf.org.za and complete the short registration form. You are not required to provide any medical information when you register.

Remember to tell your loved ones that you want to be an organ donor because without their consent, no donation can take place.

09/09/2026

WILL MY FAMILY BE CHARGED FOR THE DONATION?

No, not a cent. It is completely free to donate your organs.

All medical costs related to the donation will be paid for by the organ recipient(s) or third parties, from the moment you are declared brain dead until your organs are procured.

These costs include the process of keeping the organs viable for transplantation after death, removing the organs, doctors’ fees, use of the operating theatre, medical supplies, and preparing the organs for transportation.

To register as an organ donor, visit www.odf.org.za and complete the short registration form. Remember to tell your family that you want to be an organ donor, because without their consent, no donation can take place.

04/09/2026

WILL MY BODY LOOK THE SAME AFTER DONATION?

Yes, it will. After death, a team of doctors will remove your organs carefully and respectfully without disfiguring your body. A professional will then prepare your body so that it looks the same as it did before the donation.

Your family would even be able to hold an open-casket funeral if they wanted to. And the donation would not delay the funeral either, so there is no reason not to donate your organs.

If you are not a registered donor yet, please sign up today by visiting www.odf.org.za and completing the short registration form. It is quick, easy, and free!

Remember to tell your loved ones about your decision, because without their consent, no donation can take place.

02/09/2026

WILL DOCTORS FIGHT AS HARD FOR MY LIFE IF I AM AN ORGAN DONOR?

Absolutely. The ICU doctors’ first and only priority is to save your life. They will do everything in their power to keep you alive. The doctors have nothing to gain by letting you die because they do not get compensated for referring a potential organ donor.

It is only after you have been declared brain dead by two independent teams of doctors that organ donation becomes an option. An independent transplant coordinator (a medical professional) is then contacted to ask your family for consent to donate your organs and to organise the transplant process.

Nobody makes any money from the organs themselves because the sale of organs is highly illegal and unethical.

To register, go to www.odf.org.za and complete the short registration form.

09/03/2026

Thank you to everyone who came out to support Sunday's annual Heart Run, and to Pirates Road Running Club for hosting the run, in aid of Organ Donor Foundation of SA, and the spirit of Giving To Life. 🙏🧡💚

Thanks to everyone who came together to support the 6th Heart Run ❤️❤️ in aid of the Organ Donor Foundation of SA. 🏴‍☠️