Regional
Red Saturday expands into a continental lifesaving force
Michelle Vermeulen
Western Cape Blood Service, Cape Town, South Africa
Monique Schreiner
South African National Blood Service, Johannesburg, South Africa
One day. One continent. One purpose. One shared commitment to saving lives.
What began in South Africa as an innovative response to seasonal blood shortages has, in just one year, grown into a powerful continental movement. Red Saturday started as a national blood drive strategically placed the day after Black Friday, one of the most popular shopping days of the year, that sees people flooding to shopping malls for discounted deals. In November 2025, Red Saturday crossed borders, languages and cultures, uniting African nations in a shared act of solidarity: voluntary blood donation.
Following the remarkable success of Red Saturday in 2024, the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) and the Western Cape Blood Service (WCBS) were proud to once again contribute to this initiative—this time as part of a far broader African collaboration spearheaded by the Africa Transfusion Indaba’s Donor Recruitment & Retention Committee.
Units from Red Saturday
From a National Response to a Continental Vision
By positioning blood donation as “the ultimate deal” during Red Saturday 2024 SANBS and WCBS mobilised communities across South Africa and exceeded their national target, collecting 6,817 units of blood in a single day—directly strengthening the country’s blood supply and saving lives. That success planted a powerful seed and demonstrated what is possible when communities are inspired by a shared purpose. On Saturday, 29 November 2025, blood services across the continent united under a single, connected message: One day. One continent. One purpose.
Africa Answers the Call
Fifteen countries across Africa participated in Red Saturday 2025, each adapting the campaign to their local context while remaining united under a common goal. Participating countries included South Africa, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Ethiopia, Senegal, Tunisia, Rwanda, Zambia, Nigeria, Chad, Namibia, Cabo Verde, Uganda, Cameroon and Mozambique.
Across cities, towns, shopping centres, clinics and community venues, donors responded in extraordinary numbers. By the end of the day, more than 22,000 units of blood had been collected across the continent, far exceeding expectations and demonstrating the immense power of collaboration.
For SANBS and WCBS, this continental success was both humbling and affirming. It reinforced what South Africa witnessed in 2024: when people understand the need and feel part of something bigger than themselves, they act.
Red Saturday
Red Saturday
Strengthening Blood Systems Through Unity
Red Saturday delivered several critical outcomes:
- It reinforced the importance of voluntary, non-remunerated blood donation as the cornerstone of a safe and sustainable blood supply.
- It attracted new donors, many of whom donated for the first time as part of a continental movement.
- It reminded regular donors of the ongoing, everyday need for blood—beyond emergencies and headlines.
- It showcased the ability of African blood services to collaborate, innovate and lead together.
Most importantly, the blood collected on Red Saturday translated directly into lives saved—supporting mothers during childbirth, children with severe anaemia, trauma patients, surgical cases and people living with chronic conditions.
A donor from Red Saturday
A Shared African Success
The success of Red Saturday 2025 belongs to every donor who rolled up a sleeve, every staff member who worked tirelessly to collect blood, and every blood service that committed to a common goal. What started as a response to a national challenge has become a continental movement with the potential to shape the future of donor recruitment and retention in Africa.
Looking Ahead
The focus now turns to sustaining donor engagement, growing regular donor bases, and continuing to support initiatives that strengthen blood availability throughout the year.
Because while Red Saturday happens once a year, the need for blood remains constant—every day, in every country, across our continent.
When Africa stands together, hope flows, lives are saved, and the heartbeat of the continent grows stronger.
