According to the University of Stellenbosch, the surgery - called nephrectomy - makes donating organs less invasive for living donors. It is the first time it has been done in South Africa.
The surgery was performed by urologist Dr Danelo du Plessis, who is employed by both the hospital and the university.
He used the da Vinci Xi Robotic platform that allows surgeons to operate with exceptional precision through four robotic arms, controlled remotely via an immersive 3D console.