A lot has been said and done to support and protect people with albinism after Gabasile Shabane and his cousin Nkosikhona Ngwenya were kidnapped and later killed.
A lot of awareness campaigns has been held, also talk shows, dialogue, pickets, protest marches, but the lives of people with albinism is always in danger.
Mrs Tryphina Nhlapho addressing during an awareness campaign held at the KG Mall recently.
The office of the executive mayor through the Transversal Unit was in the forefront with other organisations and stakeholders like the SAPS, Moral Regeneration Movement, traditional leaders, traditional healers, department of home affairs, department of justice, non governmental organisations and civil society. The organisations even travelled to Oshoek border gate to picket. Recently a young boy with albinism was nearly kidnapped.
Mrs Tryphina Nhlapho reported that five suspects travelling in a white VW Polo attempted to kidnap the child at Sukumani Primary School in Phola.
The incident happened on Thursday, June 14, in the afternoon. The five suspects were travelling in the car with an unknown registration number.
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Apparently they went to the school and lied to the security officer that the parents of the child has sent them to fetch the child and the security officer denied them entry to take the child and thereafter they started to be aggressive and swearing at the security officer and left the school.
It was later discovered that the parents didn’t send anybody to fetch their child and the principal notified the police who intervened immediately. The principal volunteered to take the child for safety to her home after school.
A meeting was held with various stakeholders to decide on the way forward to assist the child and his parents and other learners from other schools who are also living with albinism. A decision was made that the child will be temporarily removed to a place of safety.
Members from the department of social services are handling the case and at the moment no case docket has been opened.
Emalahleni executive mayor, Cllr Linah Malatjie and Mrs Tryphina Nhlapho during an awareness campaign held at the KG Mall recently.
The Phola SAPS Corporate Communication Officer Constable Thabang Petros Ntuli is arranging Imbizo to address the issue of people with albinism more especially within the community.
