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The department of women, youth and persons with disabilities (DWYPD) has joined forces with the National Albinism Task Force of SA (NATF) to call for an end to discrimination, hostility and violence against people with albinism.
This call to action comes ahead of the court appearance of South African traditional healer Bhongolethu “Dr Khehlelezi” Mzozo, who is charged with spreading misinformation about people with albinism in a video shared on YouTube in April this year.
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The video, which has been deemed discriminatory and amounting to hate speech against people with albinism, prompted the Thembisile Madlala Albinism Foundation, supported by the NATF, to file a case against Khehlelezi with the equality court. The case, while focused on Khehlelezi’s actions, highlights the broader issue of discrimination and hate speech faced by people with albinism according to DWYP.
DWYPD said in a statement:
To address this pervasive issue, the NATF, in collaboration with the KwaZulu-Natal sport, arts and culture department, is initiating stakeholder engagement conversations to develop a national safety plan for persons with albinism. According to DWYP, they have begun collaborating with the NATF and the KwaZulu-Natal department of sport, arts and culture to initiate these conversations by facilitating the first social cohesion community outreach programme.
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Regarding the programme, the department said:
In a demonstration of their commitment to protecting the rights of people with albinism, a group of individuals and organisations convened at Gandhi Park in Verulam, KwaZulu-Natal, for the continuation of the equality court case hearing between the albinism sector and Khehlelezi. The hearing took place at the Verulam Magistrates' Court.
City Press reached out to Khehlelezi after his court case on Thursday, but he declined to comment, stating that he would need to consult with his lawyer first.
