Still searching for a life-saving stem cell match, eleven-year-old Zibusiso continues his battle with leukaemia.
Image: Supplied.
Every hour, a South African is diagnosed with a blood-related cancer or disorder.
Despite a registry of 173,000 donors, two young people in KwaZulu-Natal are still waiting for the stranger who can save their lives.
For 11-year-old Zibusiso and 22-year-old Siphephile, the clock is ticking.
Zibusiso should be on the rugby field or lost in a book. Instead, he has been fighting leukaemia since June 2025.
In an incredible display of intuition, the young boy actually researched his own symptoms, fatigue and bruising, online before doctors confirmed his fears. Today, 98% of his blood is affected.
While his siblings were not a match, his mother, Londiwe, was only a half-match, which means her stem cells are unsuitable for transplantation.
The family's hope now rests entirely with a stranger.
“Many people are aware of blood donation, but few understand the importance of stem cell donation, even though it could mean the difference between life and death for patients like my son,” shares Londiwe.
“Even if you're not doing it for my child, there are others in the same situation. Let's get tested and see if we can save a life."
In February 2025, after multiple visits to her local clinic in Qwa-Qwa and a transfer to a hospital in Bloemfontein, Siphephelo was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML).
Image: Supplied.
Then there is 22-year-old Siphephile.
While studying for her Bachelor of Education at the University of the Free State, her world was turned upside down.
In 2025, she was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML). An aggressive, fast-growing cancer of the blood and bone marrow that causes the body to produce large numbers of immature, dysfunctional white blood cells called myeloblasts.
Despite gruelling treatments, her spirit remains unbroken.
She completed her semester remotely from a hospital bed and has recently returned to campus. She is determined to teach, but to do so, she needs a stem cell transplant.
While her sister is waiting to be tested, family members only provide a match for about 30% of patients. For Siphephile, the search for a stranger to save her life is on.
In South Africa, registering as a stem cell donor is notably low, with only around 0.04% of the population listed.
According to research, there is an urgent demand for increased participation, especially among Black South Africans, who are starkly under-represented in donor databases.
Research demonstrates that patients are more likely to find matches within similar ethnic groups, underscoring the urgent need for a diverse pool of potential donors.
Organisations like the South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR) and DKMS Africa are working tirelessly to bridge this gap, recruiting donors and raising awareness.
Registering as a stem cell donor is free, takes just a few minutes, and could be the most important thing you ever do.
If you are between 17 and 55, you could be the match they are looking for.
Visit www.dkms-africa.org today to request your free swab kit and register from home.