On the eve of International Albinism Day, the KwaZulu-Natal branch of the Albinism Society of South Africa says while it’s celebrating the day, it’s also fighting severe discrimination.
People, who live with albinism, often live in fear of their lives. In some parts of Eastern and Southern Africa, people with albinism are killed.
It’s believed their body parts have magic powers. Zulmira Nhatave is a Safety, Health and Environmental Officer at the KwaZulu-Natal Prasa regional office.
She is among many people living with albinism in the country.People with the congenital disorder lack pigmentation in their skin, hair and eyes. But it hasn’t deterred her from fulfilling her dreams.
Two of her four siblings – a brother and sister – were also born with albinism. Her brother, Sibusiso went missing in 2011 in Esikhawini in northern KwaZulu-Natal, when he was 14-years-old.
He’s never been found and it has left her family devastated.
Nhatave says she wants to inspire other people with albinism and also campaign against discrimination.
