The Cape Times reported on Thursday that this new criteria has come into effect through the department of health. Mambaonline described this as 'a victory for fairness and equality'.Īccording to the SANBS, anybody who has a new sexual partner will not be allowed to donate blood for six months, and anyone who has multiple sexual partners will not be allowed to donate blood – regardless of their sexuality. The new policy on blood donations favours people in monogamous relationships, regardless of their sexuality. The HIV/Aids rate in South Africa is higher among heterosexuals. However, this 2006 policy was widely criticised as being discriminatory, especially as heterosexual people who engaged in risky or casual sex were allowed to donate blood. Previously, men who had sex with men were seen as having a higher risk of being infected with HIV/Aids and were only allowed to donate blood if they were celibate for six months or longer, according to Mambaonline.
