‘We are all the same and our blood is red’
According to Nomthandazo, it was evident that the accused had intentions to commit the crime.
Speaking to Nomthandazo Ngwenya, the founder of Gabisile and Nkosikhona Foundation, she shares her journey after the death of her sister and the aims of the organisation.
She relates how her sister’s death Gabisile and Nkosikhona affected her family.
Gabisile Shabane who was 13 at the time of her death was living with albinism.
Together with her 15-month-old nephew Nkosikhona Ngwenya, they were killed for their body parts because it’s believed to bring good luck.
She says Gabasile was a young, innocent, beautiful girl who was driven, very ambitious, had dreams like any other girl and bright.
She wanted to be a fashion designer when she grew up, but her life was cut short.
Nkosikhona was loved by his mother and was also a happy child.
The incident on January 28, 2018, in which both children were kidnapped in the still of the night, will always bring bad memories to them.
She says the family was traumatised, and it felt like the end of the world.
“We only saw such stories on television and never thought it will happen to us. We could not sleep, hoping that they will open the door and come home. We wondered about their whereabouts and their welfare. Not only that, but we could not understand how innocent young children could be victims of kidnapping. We asked questions, and we could not find any answers and our lives changed,” explained Nomthandazo.
She said after their bodies were found with Gabasile’s body parts missing, the trauma came back again.
Added to that was the start of the trial, the postponement and on hearing they were killed, added strain to the family.
Nomthandazo said there were times when they would lose hope and thought that the justice system will fail them because the accused did not show any remorse, and they denied everything.
According to Nomthandazo, it was evident that the accused had intentions to commit the crime.
Recently, the Gabisile and Nkosikhona Foundation was launched in memory of the two children.
“The foundation aims to be the voices of the voiceless and to teach people that we’re all the same, the only difference is skin pigmentation, eye colour and hair. All our blood colour is red. We want to fight for the rights of people living with albinism. We want to stop the abuse, name-calling and insults. Furthermore, we will visit schools, churches and community gatherings to hold awareness campaigns. We have already launched the foundation at Johannes Kananda Primary School, Gabisile’s former school. We have set out programmes for the future,” explained Nomthandazo.
Nomthandazo added to say that they also have long term plans for the foundation to have a centre of their own, and they will need the community’s support.
They are busy negotiating with the police, different government departments, pastors, traditional healers and traditional leaders for their support going forward.
They will also go all out for sponsorships.
For more information, Nomthandazo can be contacted at: 076 646 2123 or 072 234 4877.
*Thokozani Msibi, Knowledge Mhlanga and Brilliant Mkhize were found guilty of kidnapping and murdering the two children.
They were sentenced to life imprisonment.
Read More:
Shabane murder – three found guilty
Testimonies revealed during the Shabane-murders trial
Thubane sentenced to two life terms for Shabane killings
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