Press Release

Walter Sisulu Medical Students Step Up to Help Save Lives

Through a collaboration with the South African Medical Students Union (SAMSU), DKMS Africa engaged medical students at Walter Sisulu University’s Mthatha Campus, with more than 200 students registering as potential stem cell donors.

27/10/2026

With young people playing an important role in building a more diverse stem cell registry, university partnerships provide an opportunity to turn awareness into action. That action came to life at Walter Sisulu, where more than 200 students came forward to register as potential stem cell donors during a two-day DKMS Africa activation.

The collaboration was initiated by Viwe Ntshonga, Chairperson of the South African Medical Students Union's Walter Sisulu Branch, after he recognised the need to make stem cell donor education and registration more accessible to his fellow students.

“Healthcare is everyone's responsibility, from those in positions of leadership to individuals within our communities. This is what motivated me to reach out to DKMS Africa.”

“As future healthcare professionals, we have a responsibility to take action and encourage others to do the same. By working together, we can strengthen public health and contribute towards Sustainable Development Goal 3, which focuses on good health and well-being. Stem cell donation is one way we can stand together in humanity, especially when a transplant may be a patient's only chance at survival,” said Ntshonga.

Beyond registering students, the drive provided an opportunity for students to ask questions, address misconceptions about stem cell donation and gain a better understanding of the challenges patients face when searching for a matching donor.

A Walter Sisulu University medical student completing the registration process during the DKMS Africa donor drive in Mthatha.

A DKMS Africa donor recruiter speaking to a student during the Walter Sisulu University donor drive.

For DKMS Africa, establishing a presence at Walter Sisulu was particularly significant given the institution's longstanding contribution to healthcare education in the Eastern Cape. Home to South Africa's oldest rural medical school, Walter Sisulu has played an important role in training healthcare professionals to serve rural and underserved communities.

This made the collaboration particularly meaningful, allowing DKMS Africa to engage future healthcare professionals who could help extend the message into their communities.

Palesa Mokomele, Head of Corporate Affairs & Communications at DKMS Africa, highlighted the importance of reaching students during their medical training, particularly as the organisation works to address gaps in donor representation.

“For many patients, finding a matching stem cell donor remains a challenge, particularly when people with similar genetic backgrounds are underrepresented on the registry. This is why reaching young South Africans from diverse communities is so important.

“Collaborating with Walter Sisulu allowed us to engage students who could not only become potential stem cell donors themselves but also help others understand why registration is important. As future healthcare professionals, they will be in a position to educate patients, address misconceptions and encourage donor registration in the communities they will one day serve,” said Mokomele.

The involvement of SAMSU demonstrated the value of student leadership in encouraging participation. With students helping to mobilise their peers, the collaboration empowered young people to take action in the fight against blood cancer.

Universities, student organisations and communities can also play a part in this lifesaving mission. To explore partnership opportunities, get involved or register as a potential stem cell donor, visit www.dkms-africa.org.

About DKMS

DKMS is an international non-profit organization dedicated to the fight against blood cancer. It was founded in Germany in 1991 by Dr. Peter Harf and DKMS together with the organization’s over 1,200 employees and has since relentlessly pursued the aim of giving as many patients as possible a second chance at life. With over 13 million registered donors, DKMS has succeeded in doing this more than 115,000 times to date by providing blood stem cell donations to those in need. This accomplishment has led to DKMS becoming the global leader in the facilitation of unrelated blood stem cell transplants. The organization has offices in Germany, the US, Poland, the UK, Chile, and South Africa. The organization has offices in Germany, the US, Poland, the UK, Chile, India and South Africa.

DKMS is also heavily involved in the fields of medicine and science, with its own research unit focused on continually improving the survival and recovery rate of patients. In its high-performance laboratory, the DKMS Life Science Lab, the organization sets worldwide standards in the typing of potential blood stem cell donors.

DKMS Africa received its WMDA certification in 2025, cementing its position as South Africa’s biggest and most diverse stem cell donor registry.