By Craig Hicks

Did you know we have 5 fixed blood donation centres in the Cape Metropole, 4 of which are situated in popular shopping malls?

The fixed blood donation centres are a convenient option for blood donors since they are open between Monday and Friday, and in some cases, even Saturdays and Sundays. Most of us find ourselves in a mall, sometime during the month, why not save up to 3 lives and donate blood?

As a service, we try and make blood donation accessible to everyone. As the need for blood and blood products increased over the years, so did the need to open new blood donation centres. To serve the Cape Town City Bowl, WCBS opened its first fixed blood donation centre in Long Street in 2005. Since then, we’ve opened the N1 City Mall blood donation centre and Blue Route Mall blood donation centre in 2013. In 2021 we’ve opened the 4th fixed blood donation centre at Kenilworth Centre, and shortly after that, we’ve opened our doors at Cape Gate Mall. These 5 fixed blood donation centres aim to collect 43 000 units annually, each with a target of between 25 and 40 units of blood a day, ultimately contributing to the overall target of collecting 700 units of blood a day.

We know you are busy, and we know it might not always be easy to find the most convenient blood donation clinic, but we are here to help. In the month of October, we are launching our ‘We need you here’ campaign. This campaign aims to educate donors on how easy it is to go and donate at any one of our fixed blood donation centres. The campaign graphics showcase a generic mall map, conveying that we are really just up the road, or around the corner.

Find us at: 

  • Kenilworth Centre (Donation Centre Next to Dis-Chem)
    • Monday – Friday 10:00 – 17:45
  • Cape Gate Shopping Centre (Donation Centre @ Entrance 3)
    • Monday – Friday 10:00 – 17:45
  • Blue Route Mall (Donation Centre @ Shop G56 Next to Standard Bank)
    • Monday – Friday 10:00 – 17:45
    • Saturdays – 09:00 – 14:45
  • N1 City Mall (Donation Centre @ Shop 36 Near Checkers Entrance)
    • Monday – Friday 10:00 – 17:45
    • Saturdays – 09:00 – 14:45
    • Sundays – 09:00 – 12:45
  • Our other blood donation centre is situated in the City Bowl and you can find us at 9 Long Street.
    • Tuesday – Friday – 08:00 – 15:45

Another activation that will take place in this month is various blood group activations at different shopping centres. We aim to educate the public about the importance of blood donation by using blood grouping as a marketing tool in the hopes of recruiting new blood donors. See activation below or  visit our social media @The­_WCBS.

Kenilworth Centre
10 October 2022, 10:00 – 14:00

Blue Route Mall
10 October 2022, 11:00 – 15:00

Constantia Village
25 October 2022, 10:00 – 14:00

CapeGate Shopping Centre
26 October 2022, 11:00 – 14:00

N1 City Mall
26 October 2022, 10:00 – 14:00

Promenade Mall
27 October 2022, 10:00 – 14:00

We will also end the month on a high note, hosting our 1 day – 10 malls – 1000 units of blood campaign. This event will take place on Saturday, 29 October, from 09:00 – 16:00 at 10 participating malls across the Western Cape.

Next time you are doing your monthly shopping at any of these malls, please pop in at any of our fixed blood donation centres and donate blood. If you are between the ages of 16 and 75, weigh 50kg or more, are in good general health, and lead a safe sexual lifestyle, you should be able to donate. Blood donation has never been this easy.

For more information or an alternative blood donation clinic, visit www.wcbs.org.za/blood-donation/ or send a WhatsApp to 060 549 7244.

We need you here. Do something remarkable. Donate blood.

Kindly note: Times and dates are subject to change. Click here to find your closest blood donation centre.