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IOL News
2 days ago
- Health
- IOL News
Western Cape Blood Service reviews race-related questions on donor forms
The Western Cape Blood Service is reviewing the blood donor questionnaire and plans to add an 'other' option, and we are considering a 'prefer not to say' option after concerns were raised by the group People Against Race Classification calling for the blocks to be scrapped. Image: Independent Newspapers photographers The Western Cape Blood Service (WCBS) is reviewing its donor questionnaire following pressure from People Against Race Classification (Parc) to change the requirement to state your race when donating blood. The service said they now plan to add an 'other' option, and is considering a 'prefer not to say' option. Parc had flagged their concerns with the WCBS through several letters, saying they took offence that the questionnaire to be completed by those who want to donate blood asked for racial information. 'I have been a blood donor in this country for many years. I am not a Coloured, Black, Indian or White person. Why don't you also add an option for a person not to complete his race data? Or why not add more ethnic identities like, Khoi-San, Zulu, Afrikaner, Pedi, etc. 'The arguments regarding the need for this data is commonly known but not accepted. The WCBS as part of the science and medical fraternity, has no obligation to report on which blood was donated by which race. The necessity to know a person's race has no medical implication on what patient could use whose blood. You have no legal leg to support this practice. The Population Registration Repeal Act of 1991 has repealed all uses of race criteria,' Parc founder Glen Snyman wrote. On March 13, Parc's action team visited the Western Cape Blood donation Service's Head Quarters in Cape Town where they held a demonstration with placards in hand calling for the race blocks on the donation forms to be removed. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Initially the organisation in a letter responding to Snyman's concerns on March 27, outlined the reasons why it collected the data and also noted that the matter was discussed at a board meeting and would be brought up again following consultation with an expert. On June 2, WCBS CEO, Greg Bellairs wrote another letter, stating that the board had explored whether there may be any ethical issues around asking the race of blood donors and had engaged with a 'respected bio-ethicist'. 'We have also fully considered your position, and decided the following: when next we revise the blood donor questionnaire's options regarding race, we will add a block called 'other', and we are considering adding another block called 'prefer/choose not to say'. We will add further information about why we ask for the race of blood donors, on the blood donor questionnaire, on the Service's Privacy Statement (which all blood donors sign), and on WCBS's website,' said Bellairs. On March 13, Parc's action team visited the Western Cape Blood donation Service's Head Quarters in Cape Town where they held a demonstration with placards in hand calling for the race blocks on the donation forms to be removed. Image: Supplied Approached for comment on Thursday, WCBS spokesperson Marike Carli said the organisation did collect race data but was open to continuous engagements. 'Race data is still collected. However, we are reviewing the blood donor questionnaire and plan to add an 'other' option, and we are considering a 'prefer not to say' option as well. Blood donors who wish to not disclose their race may freely donate blood. We do not discriminate based on race or gender. We welcome constructive dialogue and remain open to continuous engagements and improvements. 'Every decision we make, including the information we request from blood donors, is… grounded in both medical science and ethical responsibility. We ask blood donors to self-identify their race so that we can select donations for extended testing for additional blood group systems (other than the ABO and Rh systems). This enables us to provide blood-group compatible blood products to multi-transfused patients such as those with thalassaemia, and sickle cell disease – as well as to identify donations of rare blood types, which are reserved in a national repository for patients with rare blood types,' said Carli. Snyman said this was still not enough. 'This is a small 'victory' for PARC. The WC Blood Service agreed to amend their blood donation questionnaire form by adding to the race options the 'other' box, and also an option for people to 'not disclose their race'. However, we will continue our fight to have all the race blocks removed from all forms,' he said. Stellenbosch University, Emeritus Professor in Health Systems and Public Health, Usuf Chikte said there is no 'credible genetic or biological foundation for these categories'. 'Racial classification, particularly in South Africa, is a social and political construct, not a scientific one. It emerged from a brutal system of segregation and inequality, not from any meaningful understanding of human biology. To continue relying on these categories in medicine, especially in something as sensitive and vital as blood donation, is to perpetuate a deeply harmful legacy devoid of any scientific basis. 'Proponents argue that such data may help match rare blood types. But even where this is medically relevant, ancestry-based screening, not racial identity, is the appropriate approach. 'Race' is simply too crude, inaccurate, and politically loaded to serve as a stand-in for complex biological or genetic markers. More importantly, the use of race on medical forms undermines patient trust. Most people filling out these forms have no idea why the information is being collected or how it will be used. In a country still grappling with the trauma of institutionalised racism, this is not a trivial issue. Medical institutions must be held to the highest standards of ethical transparency and scientific validity.'
IOL News
27-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Tell us Mr President, how do you classify race and how are you helping Apartheid victims find closure?
President Cryil Ramaphosa will respond to key questions in parliament today Image: GCIS What legislative laws does the South African government rely on when it classifies Coloured, Indian, whites, and the Khoi-San people as not being African? And what has President Cyril Ramaphosa done to expedite the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry to investigate allegations that attempts were made to prevent the investigation and prosecution of apartheid-era crimes? These will be among the tough questions that Ramaphosa will answer when he appears before the National Assembly today. The president is scheduled to appear at least once a quarter during Parliament's annual programme to respond in person to questions raised by members of parliament. The question relating to racial classification was raised by Marlon Daniels, the Chief Whip of the Patriotic Alliance, while the leader of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party wants to know from Ramaphosa if the families of apartheid victims are being updated about his interventions to help them find closure and for him to specify what those interventions are. Other questions to the head of state include what steps the government were taking to reform taxation related to renewable energy. Mdumiseni Ntuli, the Chief Whip of the African National Congress will raise the question given that the global transition from green-house gas emissions to renewable energy is creating an unprecedented rising demand for metals and minerals. Ntuli said this presents an opportunity for South Africa which is a mineral-rich country to better leverage its resources to finance development and infrastructure, diversify the economy, expand energy access and avoid instances where resource wealth fails to translate into broad development. His question delves into whether the government will be implementing a resource rent tax to increase revenue and finance development infrastructure and economic diversification in line with the World Bank Report. Ramaphosa will also respond to Cornelius Mulder, the Freedom Front's Chief Whip question on the new economic policies that he and his Cabinet has developed since being sworn into the Government of National Unity in July last year. The ANC's Moleboheng Modise-Mpya will raise the issue of what engagements have been initiated with the Russian Federation with regard to ending the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. This follows the recent official visit of the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to South African, where he expressed concerns about the continuing conflict that has led to the loss of civilian lives, damage to critical infrastructure and the deteriorating humanitarian situation. Zelenskyy had told Ramaphosa that peace can only be obtained through diplomacy, inclusive dialogue and a commitment to the principles of the United Nations Charter.
IOL News
23-04-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Cogta Committee challenges initiation death targets, insists on zero casualties
Parliament's Cogta Committee has criticised the Department of Traditional Affairs for proposing reduced, not eliminated, initiation deaths. The committee has called for revised targets that reflect a zero-death and zero-injury policy. However, the committee's urgent demand for immediate revisions underscores a growing frustration over perceived complacency in tackling the issue at hand. The department had laid out a plan to drop initiation deaths from a troubling 63 to just 13 by 2029, accompanied by a proposal to reduce the number of illegal initiation schools from 429 to 229. These initiatives were to be augmented through enhanced oversight, community education, and regulatory reforms focused on this sensitive cultural practice. During a recent briefing regarding the department's annual performance plan for 2025/26 and its strategic direction through 2025 to 2030, committee members spotlighted their dissatisfaction with the lack of urgency in reducing initiation-related harm, making it clear that their expectations are centered around a singular, unwavering goal: zero deaths and injuries. The Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) has taken a firm stance against the Department of Traditional Affairs, outright rejecting their proposed targets aimed at addressing harmful practices linked to illegal initiation schools. ''This enables committees to scrutinise departmental performance and spending and hold them accountable to the public. Members learnt that the department's strategic plan will centre around four outcomes, including ensuring that institutions of Traditional and Khoi-San leadership are functional, legitimate, and governed in compliance with applicable laws. ''Other outcomes focus on transformation, ensuring that traditional leadership structures are inclusive, rights-based, and aligned with constitutional values. It was; however, the targets set for promoting safer initiation practices by reducing illegal initiation schools and related injuries and casualties that particularly concerned members.'' Committee Chairperson Dr Zweli Mkhize criticised these targets, highlighting a significant discrepancy with the government's zero-tolerance stance on initiation casualties. "All targets should be not, you will be accused of running this programme in a way that allows certain deaths and amputations," Mkhize said. He further pointed out that setting any target other than zero would send the wrong message to the public, suggesting that such a target would "risk legitimising the very harm we are meant to eradicate." Mkhize described the targets as 'indefensible,' adding that the department's approach risked normalising preventable harm under the guise of bureaucratic compliance. He stressed that 'the only acceptable target for loss of life or amputation is zero,' underlining the need for more stringent measures to address these issues. The committee also discussed the need for amendments to the Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders Act, which was found unconstitutional, and emphasised the importance of a collaborative approach to the recognition of Khoi-San traditional leaders. Mkhize suggested a more inclusive process and recommended that the department share relevant information and establish mechanisms to facilitate interaction with the body responsible for traditional leadership matters. IOL News Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. IOL Politics
