After centuries of being called “iinkawu (monkeys)”, living in fear of falling victim to ritual murder for their body parts to be use as muti, and mounting discrimination, the Albinism Society of South Africa (Assa) has had enough.
It has called on the government to introduce a bill that outlaws hate speech and enforces action against rights violations of people with albinism.
The call comes as the country commemorates Albinism Month to create awareness of the rare, non-contagious and genetically inherited condition.
The condition presents at birth, resulting in a lack of pigmentation in the hair, skin and eyes, which causes vulnerability to sun exposure and bright light.
Assa founder Nomasonto Mazibuko said erroneous beliefs and myths, heavily influenced by superstition, often threatened the lives and physical integrity of people with albinism.
“Most recently, in Tanzania, a girl’s hand was chopped off to be sold, and most of these kind of violations are happening to the girl child.
“How can anyone in the 21st century still believe that an albino’s blood will give them luck?” Mazibuko asked yesterday, lamenting what she said were the senseless violations people with albinism endured.
“There was a lost child in KwaZulu-Natal in 2011, but that was swept under the carpet… How many of these incidents are happening?
“Can we rule out trafficking for parts? Yet no one is saying anything.”
The call is part of the resolutions taken last year at the first National Albinism Conference in Ekurhuleni.
It is estimated by the society that one in 4 000 people is born with albinism.
But Mazibuko said that statistic may be dated.
“When we had the last census, no one asked if there is someone in the household with albinism, they just asked if there was someone with a disability.
“How many people with albinism die of skin cancer each year because sunscreen is so expensive and isn’t provided at public health facilities… I am on medical aid but there is no coding for albinism,” she said.
According to the society, a majority of people with albinism are subjected on a daily basis to name-calling and exclusion, which impinges on their rights to equality and dignity, often leaving deep emotional scars.
The society backs its call for a bill on last year’s June 13 resolution by the UN Human Rights Council to condemn attacks and discrimination against people with albinism.
The resolution indicates that this is not an isolated issue in one country, and therefore each country had to take steps to remedy the situation.
“If there is legislation in place, people will stop (spreading hate speech),” Mazibuko said.
The Star