Rudzani Matshili
 
After enduring the rigours of dialysis three times a week for four hours per session as a teenager, Tshepiso Moeketsi now celebrates 19 years as a kidney transplant recipient, a milestone he uses to inspire others to consider organ and tissue donation.
Earlier this week, the 39-year-old stood on the front lawn of Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital (DGMAH), joining a team dedicated to raising awareness during Organ and Tissue Donor Month. 
For Moeketsi, DGMAH is more than just a hospital, it is a place he considers a second home. Born prematurely with only one kidney, he faced numerous health challenges growing up and became a regular patient at the facility.
In 2005, Moeketsi was diagnosed with kidney failure and began dialysis, a difficult eight-month period he recalls vividly. "I was in Grade 11 when I started dialysis. I would go to the hospital after school while trying to keep up with my studies. It was incredibly tough," he shared.
His life changed in 2006 when his mother donated a kidney to him. "Now, 19 years later, I'm living a happy life, and I'll forever be grateful for this gift. All the patients I was on dialysis with at the time were less fortunate. None of them received kidneys, and sadly, they have all passed away," he said.
Moeketsi, now a businessman, hopes his story will encourage others to become organ donors. "I want to urge people to consider donating their organs. You could save the life of someone who is struggling," he added.
IIn Gauteng alone, approximately 1 100 patients are currently awaiting kidney transplants including patients who are busy with work ups to be listed. Nationally, approximately 6 500 people are on the waiting list for organ and tissue donations. To address this need, transplant coordinators from health facilities in the province including and those from North West and Limpopo have been actively engaging communities, visiting radio stations and hosting events to educate the public and encourage healthy individuals without chronic illnesses to register as donors.
Anyone aged 18 and older can volunteer to become an organ donor. As part of the awareness campaign, common questions were addressed, such as whether one can donate while still alive and which organs are eligible for donation. The public was informed about two types of donation: living and deceased.
In living donations, whether from related or unrelated donors, organs such as kidneys, parts of the liver, or pancreas can be donated. Humans can live a normal life with one kidney, and the liver's ability to regenerate makes partial donation possible.
Transplant coordinator Sister Mathinya Tlhapane explained the process: "Patients must undergo a series of assessments, including chest x-rays, psychological evaluations, and social consultations. When the transplant team calls about a potential donor, the patient must have completed all these tests. Compliance and attending scheduled appointments are therefore extremely important."
Tlhapane also addressed common misconceptions. 
"There is no way a person can develop a new personality after a transplant. One of the goals of our awareness efforts is to dispel such myths," she said.
Moeketsi's journey is a powerful reminder of the life-changing impact of organ donation, and a call to action for all South Africans to consider giving the gift of life.