Nonhlanhla Mahlangu lives life with albinism in Wesselton and is in constant fear her life
Despite the atrocities she has been subjected to, Ms Mahlangu is a proud person living with albinism and aspires to be a social worker to help people who are living in a similar situation to hers.
Ms Nonhlanhla Mahlangu is one of many people living with Albinism in Wesselton.
The township has its fair share of people living with the condition and they are struggling to fit in and to not live in fear.
Ms Mahlangu is one of many with this condition who lives in constant fear of being abducted and killed and her body parts used for traditional medicine.
Born and bred in Wesselton, this 25-year-old mother of two has had to deal with stereotypes her whole life regarding her condition.
Forced to leave school in Grade 10 due to poor vision and bullying by fellow learners, she has led a life filled with struggles and despair.
With no support system in her teens, she eventually taught herself to accept her condition and now believes that she is normal and people who treat her as being different are the ones lacking in common sense.
Because she did not complete Grade 12, employment is scarce and with the various forms of illnesses that come with Albinism, she has little or no prospect of joining the world of employment.
“I have poor vision and cannot stay out in the sun for long periods due to the pigmentation of my skin,” Ms Mahlangu said.
She lives with her partner and children in the Ethembeni informal settlement and relies on government benefits and what her partner brings home.
Ms Mahlangu realised her biggest fear in life was passing her condition on to her children as she did not want them to go through life the same way she had.
Despite the atrocities she has been subjected to, Ms Mahlangu is a proud person living with Albinism and aspires to be a social worker to help people who are living in a similar situation.
Ms Mahlangu wants to break all myths and stereotypes about people living with Albinism and is adamant that they are human too.
“Our body parts do not cure any disease and it is frightening to read or hear on the news of a person living with Albinism that was abducted for body parts,” Ms Mahlangu said.
Such horror stories hit close to home for her when she was recently approached by a man who, according to her, made suggestive comments imploring her to connect him with less recognised people living with Albinism.
“This man told me if I was not such a well-known face in Wesselton, I would have been abducted and used for muthi.”
Ms Mahlangu now worries about other people living with her condition with such perpetrators lurking around.
“I appeal to the communities, families and people in power to protect us from these animals.”
However, Ms Mahlangu is fortunate to have her community in the Ethembeni informal settlement as a support structure.
Her community holds her in high regard and she will be embarking on a project with relevant stakeholders to bring awareness and educate the people of Wesselton about living with Albinism.
