Call to fight ill treatment of albinos

Pretoria - Traditional healers and the Albinism Society of South Africa (Assa) have stressed the need to teach about albinism to combat violence and discrimination against albinos.

Members of the Traditional Healers Organisation also dismissed myths that albino body parts can be used to make traditional medicine, saying that people were casting blemishes on their reputation for their own evil deeds.

“We don’t use albino parts to perform our rituals. The accusations are ungodly and disrespectful to our calling and practices,” said one of the members.

The traditional healers were part of an awareness campaign by the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities hosted at Freedom Park on Tuesday.

Attacks on albinos are on the rise, linked to a growing demand for body parts prized in black magic to bring good fortune. In South Africa, about one in 4 000 people is estimated to be born with albinism, compared with about one in 20 000 worldwide, according to Assa.

Chairperson of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Commission Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva welcomed the dispelling of the myth by the traditional leaders, saying: “Maybe if the public hear it from the traditional healers, then maybe people will stop killing albinos.”

Albinism is an inherited genetic condition in which the body does not produce enough melanin, the chemical that is responsible for eye, skin and hair colour. Because of the lack of pigmentation, the affected person has very pale skin, hair and eyes.

Siphiwe Mkhwemte, a 25-year-old albino, has been living in fear for the better part of his life.

Mkhwemte heard that practitioners of witchcraft would pay as much R900 000 for a full set of albino body parts using them to cast spells believed to bring good luck, love and wealth. “We are tired of living in fear,” he said.

In addition, Mkhwemte heard that they cut out albonos' body parts while they are still alive instead of killing them first. He said people also believed horrible myths about them: that they aren't human and never die; that albinism is a curse from the gods and that anyone who touches them will be cursed.

He said he had trouble with the sun and had to cover up with heavy, long-sleeved clothing and wear sunglasses to protect his eyes.

Chairperson of Assa, Nomasonto Mazibuko, who founded the organisation to “enhance the self-esteem of people with albinism” said she also grew up being discriminated against because of her albinism.

There is still prejudice at most levels in South Africa. The Health Department, she says, does not have enough health care providers specialising in albinism, which means people with the condition do not always get the correct medical care.