Local lady alleges discrimination and nepotism

GAMOTODI – “We are not going to employ you because we are saving your skin from the sun,” these were the words local resident Ms Sandra Mabule Maroga claimed she was told by the management of Bambanani Home-based Centre.
Maroga (44) is suffering from albinism and has been volunteering at the centre since 2001. According to the mother of three, her problems started when she applied for a position of carer at the centre.
She said her morale got broken on August 3, when she was informed that she could not be hired because the management and owners were worried
about her condition.
“Before the day of the interview, we had already known who was to be hired, they preferred someone with no experience and who was not qualified for the job, the person they hired only started to volunteer in 2012 and she is the next of kin of one of the managers ” she alleged.
Maroga, claimed she was sidelined to the post because of her skin colour. “I am one of the founders of the centre, I worked like any normal person, did field work and took my job to the extra mile,” she said
To gain more qualifications in her job, she was trained by St. John’s Ambulance for a course in first aid ; she also got training in homebase care, skin cancer, family planning, HIV/Aids and TB.
Locals in the area, were shocked by the centre’s decision to snub Maroga, with most calling it an “injustice and discrimination”.
They said her albinism never stopped her from normal chores, “she was always seen doing field work in the scorching heat, we wonder what has changed?”
Steelburger/Lydenburg News visited the single mother, she revealed she had no powers to go back to the centre and volunteer again. For more on this article, grab a copy of Steelburger/Lydenburg News this Friday