Public attitudes to organ donation may be influenced by cultural beliefs as well as racial prejudices and superstitions. In South Africa we are able to examine these issues from both a Firstand a Third-World perspective. In this study the attitudes of 1 299 urban white, 625 rural black and 826 urban black South Africans were examined.Eighty-nine per cent of white, 84% of rural black and 76% of urban black South Africans are prepared to donate their own organs. All groups are less willing to donate the organs of close relatives (76% white, 76% rural black and 67% urban black). Most people felt that this decision should be made by the person before death.Most black people (88%) felt that the race of both donor and recipient were irrelevant. Only 23% of black people were prepared to donate their corneas, compared with the 69% and 70% willing to donate their kidneys and heart respectivel