People with albinism speak out about dangers, challenges in Nkomazi

KAMHLUSHWA – “When I was born and my family saw I was an albino, my father told my mother to kill me. I lived but was attacked by a guy from my community three years ago. He wanted to kill me and sell my body to people who promised he’d be a millionaire. I managed to fight him off and escape.”

This is the harsh reality Nomsa Sphiwe Mashaba (27) shared with the community gathered at KaMhlushwa Community Hall on Friday, during a celebration to create awareness about the human rights of people with albinism.

The Department of Health and Nkomazi Municipality organised the event, and invited people with albinism to share their experiences and make the community aware of the dangers and challenges they face. A total of 64 persons with albinism from across Nkomazi responded.

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Mashaba’s story is just one of many similar ones by people with albinism in Nkomazi. Besides the danger that ignorance and superstition brings, Mashaba stated that, in her experience, police officers do not take it seriously when they report cases.

“Stop killing us. There is nothing special about us. We all die like everyone else. We are not medicine and our body parts don’t do magic. Our skin is just a different colour. We want to live in harmony in the community and get equal opportunities,” she said.

Mashaba said that people with albinism need bursaries, learnerships and jobs, as the grant money they receive does not help them to the extent they need.

Traditional healers were also present, and urged people to report traditional healers that require body parts to heal, to the police. They will be arrested and receive jail sentences.

The Mpumalanga MEC for Health, Sasekani Manzini, addressed the group and said it is quite disheartening that people suffer in their little corners because they are afraid of living among their own people. She explained that people with albinism are afraid because they are isolated, scorned, ridiculed, abused and killed due to evil beliefs.

“It is in times like this that we must ask ourselves hard, uncomfortable questions. Who among us has turned themselves into monsters who prey on the plight of our own? Where are they abused but in our communities? Let us all take trouble to learn more about their condition, so that you are empowered to enlighten others,” she said.

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Manzini promised that the provincial Department of Health will ensure they have data on all people with albinism in the community so they have access to medical treatment and their special needs are met. She also said that they will work with social partners to educate their workforce on the needs and sensitivities of people with albinism.

She urged communities to create greater awareness about albinism and the stigma associated with it. “It is about time that we reverse the shame, as it is people’s actions that lead people with albinism to live like foreigners in their communities.”