The Organ and Tissue Donor Association of South Africa (OrTiDA) is a registered non-profit organisation (NPO Reg. No. 321-462) committed to transforming the landscape of organ and tissue donation in South Africa.

OrTiDA is spearheading the development of a secure, legally compliant Digital Donor Registry Database and Biometric Scanner System, aimed at modernising and streamlining the organ donation process across the country. We are proud to be the only organisation in South Africa with a legally compliant organ donor database, aligned with the provisions of the National Health Act No. 61 of 2003.

Despite South Africa’s groundbreaking achievement as the country where the world’s first heart transplant was performed in 1967, we face a critical organ donation crisis today. Fewer than 0.2% of South Africans are registered as organ donors, placing the country among those with the lowest deceased donor rates globally. Many potential donor wishes go unfulfilled due to the absence of a formal, legally recognised registration and verification system.

OrTiDA is addressing this urgent gap by:

• Developing a legally compliant Digital Donor Registry, enabling individuals to register their intent to donate in a secure and accessible manner.
• Deploying biometric scanners in hospitals to enable rapid identification of registered donors, facilitating timely medical interventions.
• Collaborating with hospitals and medical professionals nationwide to ensure the system is practical, respectful, and aligned with real-world transplant needs.
• Providing secure digital storage and access to Last Wills and Testaments, ensuring that critical end-of-life wishes — including donor intent — are legally protected and readily available when needed most.

Our mission is to ensure that every registered donor’s decision is honoured, and that lives can be saved through a trustworthy, transparent, and efficient donation process. Together with our partners and community, OrTiDA is building a future where organ and tissue donation in South Africa is no longer hindered by administrative barriers — but empowered by innovation, legality, and compassion.

Challenges with the Previous System

Historically, organ donor registration in South Africa relied on outdated
methods like donor cards or stickers on driver’s licenses. However, these
systems did not meet the legal requirements of the National Health Act (No.
61 of 2003). This act mandates that a donation declaration be signed by the
donor in the presence of two competent witnesses to be legally valid. As a
result, historical registrations were not binding and served primarily for
statistical purposes, often requiring family consent at the time of death. This
led to many potential donors’ wishes being unfulfilled, as families faced
difficult decisions under emotional strain.