73-year-old Mr Kotze continues to donate blood to save lives

Mr Willem Kotze (73) is not worried about donating blood at his age. Mr Kotze is the oldest donor at the Ladysmith Blood Donor Clinic, having already donated 318 times in his life.

He is a special, rare donor, with an O-Negative blood type. Mr Kotze was born and raised in Ladysmith, and is well-known in the community for always being kind and helpful to others.

He had to receive blood when he was 12 years old after a shooting incident. He was shot in the left leg and needed blood urgently.

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However, with his blood type, it was difficult to find the right blood when he needed it most. He eventually received blood from two ladies in Ladysmith. After this incident, he decided to donate blood so that other people would not have to go through a scary experience like that.

As soon as he turned 18 years old, he became a blood donor. He used to donate at the Old Moth Club when there was no blood donor clinic available in town, like there is today. From the age of 18 until now, Mr Kotze has been a dedicated blood donor. “My family also used to donate blood. My brothers and late parents were regular and committed blood donors,” he explains.

The staff of the Ladysmith Blood Donor Clinic requested that Mr Kotze donate only four times a year due to his age. He tells the Ladysmith Gazette he is disappointed that he can’t donate more, but trusts the nurses at the clinic, as they know what is best for their donors.

“I urge the community to please come and donate. So far, I have donated 318 units, which means I might have saved 954 lives with my blood. If I can, so can you,” says Mr Kotze. Isn’t it time to take that challenge and come forward?

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