Johannesburg – The African National Congress Women’s League (ANCWL) on Tuesday said it was dismayed by the killings of people with albinism and the myths that muti made with their body parts could make users wealthy.
This comes after an alarming increase of mutilations, kidnappings and killings of people living with albinism for their body parts to make muti, especially in KwaZulu-Natal.
ANCWL secretary general Meokgo Matuba, in a statement, said a right to life was a cornerstone of South African democratic values and such rights were for all people, including people with albinism.
Matuba referred to a recent incident in which a 28-year-old woman was arrested for trying to sell a 12-year-old boy with albinism to a local traditional healer for R100 000 in Manguzi, north of KZN, last month.
The woman was denied bail last week at Ubombo Magistrate’s Court after she was charged with conspiracy to murder and kidnapping of the boy.
“We applaud the traditional healer in Manguzi in KwaZulu-Natal province who blew the whistle, after he was allegedly approached by a woman who wanted to sell him a child, living with albinism condition,” Motuba said.
Four-year-old Maneliswa Ntombela, who lives with albinism and was abducted more than a month ago near his home in Port Dunford, near Richards Bay, KZN, has still not been found.
These incidents come after the sentencing of a teenage boy to 18 years in prison in February after he murdered his 20-year-old girlfriend, Thandazile Mpunzi, who was living with albinism in uMhlabuyalingana area, KZN, last year.
“As a country we must collectively stand up against those who are peddling this myth as it results in our fellows who are affected by albinism being targets of this barbaric cruel muti killings”, Matuba said.
Matuba said the government must work with traditional leaders and the community at large to put an end to this cruel barbaric practice.
“Anyone who is involved in this barbaric cruel acts must face the full wrath of the law. A right to life is for all, including people with albinism,” Matuba said.
KZN police spokesperson, Lieutenant-Colonel Thulani Zwane, called on communities to protect children living with albinism.
“We are appealing to the parents of children living with albinism to please look after their kids and to make sure they can see their suspects,” Zwane said.
African News Agency