The Blood Squad Bus was back on UWC Main Campus, following the remarkable success of its previous visit. Image: Taygon Sass

The University of the Western Cape (UWC) has welcomed the Western Cape Blood Service (WCBS) Blood Squad Bus back to campus, following the success of its previous visit. Last year’s drive exceeded expectations, prompting WCBS to return for another round of life-saving donations.

The campaign formed part of WCBS’s Make Your Mark initiative, encouraging young people to become regular donors. This year’s focus is on giving first-time donors extra care and tracking whether they return to donate again, an effort to create a sustainable donor base.

For many students, the decision to donate is personal. A first-year law student, who asked to remain anonymous, explained: “A month ago, my aunt was in the hospital and had a miscarriage. She lost a lot of blood, and there wasn’t enough blood available. So today I decided to donate to help people in hospitals where there might not be enough blood. My blood can maybe help another person survive.”

First-year financial accounting student Kgopolo Mokoele echoed the sentiment: “I thought I could save one to three lives, so why not? That’s my main reason. It wasn’t the biscuits! My mom is a blood donor and encouraged me to come too.”

Manager: Business Innovation,  Sue Nitsckie, said the university is proud to continue its decade-long partnership with WCBS. 

First-year Financial Accounting student Kgopolo Mokoele was a first-time donor on the Blood Squad Bus. Image: Taygon Sass

“At the University of the Western Cape, we pride ourselves not only on academic excellence but also on cultivating a culture of care and responsibility,” she said. “By bringing the clinic directly onto campus, we’re making it easy and accessible for students to donate. Our goal is to welcome 250 new donors during this activation. Each unit collected has the power to give someone a second chance at life.”

The drive also supports WCBS’s wider mission. According to WCBS statistics, the service collects more than 165,000 blood units annually, helping improve the lives of over 495,000 people across the province. In 2024 alone, WCBS reported collecting 148,664 units of blood and registering 13,957 new donors.  To meet hospital demand, WCBS aims to collect about 700 units daily and maintain a five-day blood stock for all blood groups.

Public Relations Practitioner at WCBS, Bongiwe Sipunzi, applauded the efforts of the UWC community. 

“Blood donation is not just a medical necessity; it is an act of humanity. Each unit donated has the power to give families hope and strengthen our communities,” said Sipunzi. 

As UWC prepares to launch its new Institutional Operating Plan (2026–2030), the return of the Blood Squad Bus highlights the university’s commitment to civic responsibility and social impact. “Initiatives like blood donation show how students and staff can step forward to serve society. They remind us that learning is not confined to the classroom, it extends to the choices we make, the compassion we show, and the impact we create,” Nitsckie concluded.

WCBS clinic will be back on campus on the 30th September until 2 October 2025 in the Jakes Gerwel Hall.