Our Capitals
Our human capital - empowering SANBS’ people, advancing purpose
Our Capitals
Our human capital - empowering SANBS’ people, advancing purpose
What human capital means to SANBS
At SANBS, human capital is more than a resource, it is the heartbeat of our company. Our people are the foundation of our purpose and performance. We are committed to building a safe, inclusive, and rewarding workplace by offering a holistic employee experience that prioritises health, well-being, continuous development, and work-life balance.
This sentiment lies at the core of our approach to Human Capital. At SANBS, our people are not just employees—they are partners in purpose, connected by a shared commitment to saving lives. Every colleague, in every corner of the company, contributes their heart to a mission that depends on collaboration, care, and continuous growth.
Human capital is the heartbeat of SANBS, the people behind the blood. We are proud of the strides made in shaping a fit-for-purpose workforce, one that is diverse, capable and aligned to our strategic direction. Investing in people remains a central pillar of our transformation, ensuring that we are not only equipped to meet today’s challenges, but ready to lead through the next decade.
From solo to symphony: Enabling collective impact
The 2024/25 period marked a defining shift in the way SANBS approaches people practices, moving from siloed, compliance-driven processes to a cohesive, purpose-led Human Capital model. This evolution has been championed by the HCM team, who launched the Solo2Symphony journey, a call to move in harmony, align efforts, and build a unified people strategy. Through strengthened HCM forums, revitalised People Days, and collaborative engagement platforms, the team has laid the foundation for greater alignment, transparency, and shared ownership across the company.
At SANBS, our people are, and will always be, the beating heart of our mission. This transformation reflects a deliberate effort to align leadership, culture, and skills with our life-saving purpose.
By investing in capability-building, enabling inclusive growth, and cultivating a workplace where every individual feels seen, supported, and empowered, we are future-proofing our workforce and laying the foundation for sustainable impact.
FY 2025 human capital highlights
Embedding strategy through company-wide engagement
In 2024/25, SANBS undertook a coordinated effort to engage all employees in the rollout of its new 2025–2030 strategy. This new strategic direction marks an evolution from our iHEALTh strategy, which prioritised operational excellence. While SANBS remains committed to delivering safe, reliable blood products through operational rigour, the new strategy places greater emphasis on service and experience, building a more customer-centric company.
Led by the CEO and Exco members, the engagement process focused on creating clarity, driving alignment, and strengthening strategic ownership across all levels. At the heart of this shift is a deeper focus on the human experience, empowering employees to see donors, patients, and partners not just as stakeholders, but as central to the reason we exist. By embedding a culture of empathy and responsiveness, SANBS is moving from transactional service delivery to purpose-led, relationship-driven interactions, while never compromising on the operational excellence that underpins trust the system.
A workforce built for tomorrow
We strengthened our internal talent pipeline with strategic investments in high-impact development initiatives:
100%
Board exam pass rate for 12 medical technologist interns in March 2025 – a major improvement from the 59% of the previous cohort
30
biomedical technologist interns completed their internship in 2024, with 20 absorbed into SANBS, reinforcing our commitment to critical skills retention
10
All 10 student phlebotomists who passed their 2024 board exam have been absorbed into Donor Services, boosting capacity at the frontline
Inclusive development for people with disabilities
SANBS hosted:
19 PWD
learners on a Business analysis NQF Level 5 learnership
10 PWD
learners in the Contact Centre
4 PWD
interns within HCM
These individuals made measurable contributions across departments, demonstrating our commitment to inclusive growth, workplace diversity, and living our values through action.
SANBS culture DNA
Our annual employee engagement survey, SANBS Culture DNA, is an essential tool for understanding how employees experience our workplace culture. In 2025, the index score held steady at 1.29, matching the 2024 result.
While we recognise there is room for growth, this stability signals a level of consistency during a time of organisational change. We remain committed to active listening and translating employee feedback into meaningful actions that foster a thriving, inclusive workplace.