The fear of being attacked and have his limbs hacked off his body while he is still alive, keeps Julius Frans Novhela constantly aware of his surroundings.
Like a hunted animal, the 28-year-old albino told Kathorus MAIL that he lives in a state of perpetual fear in his community where he claims certain people often make nasty remarks about his albinism and how much they would get for his limbs in the underground human flesh trade market.
Julius says his daily fears are from open remarks made by people who label him; “walking money”. “Of course there are those who boldly tell me to my “pink” face that they would stop at nothing to enrich themselves by trading my limbs to the highest bidder,” explained the likeable albino as he posed for a photograph as he showcased his golden dreadlocks.
Novhela of Phumula, north of Kathorus spoke exclusively about the distress and torment the recent media reports of attacks on people with albinism has brought to fellow albinos. “I don’t know what the whole fuss is all about,” he lashed out as he shrugged his shoulders and threw his hands in the air.
“After, we’re all human beings. Same soul, same blood, just, our skin is different. But that does not make us any less worthy of life than everybody else,” said Novhela.
Novhela, said he is well aware of all the “bad things” that have been reported about what has happened to some people with albinism.
He said he was also aware of the arrests made by the police in northern KZN and added that, because of this, he and his family are forever vigilant.
“My family is aware of the dangers I face in my life each day due to the many threats that have been made against his life.
Novhela, described his life as a “tragedy of horrific abuses” from the time he was born in 1988. And even though his was not the best life growing up as a young albino child in a family that had no fixed abode, as a result both his parents were unable to provide him with the love and childhood comfort he so much deserved as “rare” child afflicted with what many of family members as well as neighbours, regarded as a “curse”.
“Because of my condition, I grew up tough and hard and things got worse after my mother died and I was left with my father,” recalled Novhela, reminiscing about his past as a child growing up in Tembisa. And when his relationship with his father reached the lowest ebb, he found himself living with different families who sheltered him as a homeless child.
Novhela, explained that even though he was abused by some of the families who offered him accommodation and rescued him from the streets, danger and possible death, among them there were those who were very kind and compassionate.
“They simply treated me as one of them, their child and that gave me the confidence I needed as a young man,” he said.
Novhela said he considers himself lucky that the attack on albinos were not as prevalent then as they are today. “Can you imagine what would have happened to me, a young albino child growing up as an orphan and homeless …?”.
“I have been through the worst in my life and the fear of having my limbs hacked off my body while I’m still alive, continues to give me sleepless nights,” said the man who described himself as a “self-made” township entrepreneur against all odds.
Like all business people, Novhela said he finds temporary solace in the company of his fellow hawkers at the entrance to the Phumula Shopping Centre, where he owns a stall and sells cellphone pouches and covers, cellphone chargers and other related paraphernalia.
“I can’t understand why there are people who suddenly see albinos as different and who believe that we possess some “superpower” and that our limbs can be turned into some “lucky charm”.
Worse still, these people are even prepared to kill us for their own selfish and evil beliefs,” said a visibly agitated Novhela as he tried to throw a humorous angle to the interview.
As he posed for a photograph with his fellow hawkers, Novhela, said he feels safe and protected among his co-hawkers, most of who have become his closest friends.
“Some of them are like family and we all treat one another like brothers,” explained Novhela, who said he hopes to see an end to this cruel and evil attack on people living with albinism.
