At least 90percent of kidney donors are white or coloured, which in itself causes a medical problem.

Naicker says donor and recipient must be close genetic matches to avoid the body rejecting the transplanted organ.

Family members are therefore the best donors, but good matches can also be found in the same genetic community.

We each have two kidneys, but a healthy person can easily survive with one.

So a relative can give the greatest gift of all - life - to a patient suffering kidney failure.

Kidneys can also be collected from brain-dead patients who give permission for their organs to be transplanted before they die.