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The SA Bone Marrow Registry says South Africa has more than four thousand new cases of blood disorder cases, such as leukaemia, reported every year.
It says in most cases, the only hope of a cure is a bone marrow transplant, also termed a stem cell transplant.
The likelihood of people from certain ethnic backgrounds finding a successful bone marrow transplant is much lower than that of people of European descent.
That's according to the Deputy Director of the SA Bone Marrow Registry, Jane Ward.
She says on Bone Marrow Donor Day - on the 17th of this month - they are targeting 100 000 registrations.
Ward is now urging people to come out in their numbers to become donors.
She says one of the major barriers to stem cell donations, is cultural and religious beliefs.
"The likelihood of people from certain ethnic backgrounds finding a successful match is a mere 37% compared to patients of European descent whose chances are 72%. Finding a match is highest amongst donors of a patient's own ethnic group but even then the odds of finding a match is 1 in 100 000" she said.
Ward says there are a lot of untruths regarding the donation process.
She says people think they drill into your bones but the process is six to eight hours and you are comfortable.
