South Africa - Black Albinos
a report by Marion Mayer Hohdahl
camera: Cornelius Swart
cut: Herman Theron
Intro for presenter:
Thousands of albinos are living around Johannesburg. They are suffering twice as blacks in a white skin. of incest and can't properly die. Research shows that after their death albinos are Generally they are shunned by their own society. Many believe the myth that they are a product secretly buried at night. It's because of this that many people believe they have disappeared without trace from the earth. Sixty percent of albinos over the age of 50 have skin cancer. And the men are less potent that men with normal pigmentation. Their IQ is no different from the population. But often albinos are sent to handicapped or schools for the blind because they have eye disease and sight problems.
TEXT
10:18
Pictures start
A visit in the black township of Tokoza near Johannesburg. For professor Jennifer Kromberg and her assistant it's nothing unusual. For 25 years the doctor has been working together with those who are often outcasts of their own society. Those who are physically and socially handicapped. Blacks that are white. Albinos.
10:52
Original sound
Jennifer Kromberg, professor of Human Genetics
They are a very high risk for getting skin cancer. The first thing we do is check their skin and make sure that it is healthy. So we have been looking at her to see if her hands are alright. Everything is fine here. You can see she's got beautiful smooth skin. She does use the cream that we give her which is an anti-sun barrier cream regularly and so she has got very good skin actually.
0:56
Original sound
But then we also check these... she does develop some pigmented patches. These patches are patches of skin that develop in about half our albinos. It doesn't develop in all our albinos. Because we know that even amongst the types of albinos there are some sub-types.
11.40
Original sound
He's her little boy and he is normally pigmented as you can see because he's only got one gene for albinism. When a mother has a child, the child only gets half the genes from the mother. And even though the mother has got two genes for albinism the baby has only got one. Because he got half the genes from the mother he's definately a carrier of the albinism gene.
Two albinos are necessary - one from the mother and one from the father - for a child to be an albino. Gloria and Patience are the only whites in their family. They live with their four children in a hut.
orignal sound
Gloria Msipi
A lot of people told my mother that we aren't people, rather we are animals. We don't look normal. Besides, we disappear from the earth and don't die like the others. No one knows what happens with us.
Original sound
Patience Msipi
Some people abuse us, we have a wrinkly neck, we have funny eyes and can't look properly.
Recently scientists have discovered that genes on the numbers 9 and 15 chromosomes are responsible for pigmentation defects.
12:56
Original sound
Jennifer Kromberg
Professor of Human Genetics
We need to find out in the DNA where the genes are for albinism, or the changes or the mutations that have caused albinism. We can do that with high tech work.
In South Africa there is one albino for every 2'000 births. In Europe the ratio is one albino every 16'000 births. There's still no preliminary tests to detect the defective gene.
Anthony Ngwenya lets himself regulary be examined. He knows the illnesses of the albinos. Skin problems, cancer, impotence. He wants to help other albinos to overcome their difference. He also trys to raise funds for the Albino Organisation.
13:38
Original sound
Mandla Mhinga
doctor
They suffer short-sightedness. And they get this phobia. They cannot face the sun directly because of the lack of melanin. So when the light hits the back of the eyes, which is the retina, it difuses it back. So their vision becomes black most of the time. So the first complication is that of the eyes.
The 44 year old has 9 brothers and sisters. Five are black and four are albinos. His parents were normally pigmented like all his children and grandchildren.
14:22
Original sound
Anthony Ngwenya
When people scorn at you or when they try and mock me... take the mickey out of you... you're not going to change. They can call you names... you won't change. So I think that's why I accepted the fact that albinism is a miseralble condition. We are hoping that we will instil this whole thing with other people.
The Organisation for Albinism has its office in the centre of Johannesburg. Children and adults come here for information. Seminars are held to try to put an end to the old myth that albinos aren't normal.
Like most albinos Mumsy is unemployed. Her skin colour diminishes her chances of getting a job. Even though she hasn't got any money Mumsy comes into the city to the office here to get help - free of charge. Here albinos can feel comfortable around each other.
15:17
Original sound
Mumsy Seipheno
We shouldn't think that we are different from other people. And some people don't think of us as handicapped. They ask us... you said you are handicapped. Where are you handicapped? You can manage to do everything. So I don't see the reason why we should feel sorry for ourselves. We just have to accept it. That's the way life is.
But it's not always so simple. Mamoketi became pregnant when she was 19. When she gave birth to an albino boy she was shocked. There had been no other albinos in her family. Her friends left her. She didn't want to accept her son. Paseka developed like a normal child.
16:04
Original sound
Mamoketi Lentsa
mother of an albino
I was surprised , I was shocked, but I just tell myself that OK he's mine. I've got him and there's nothing wrong with him.
Her mother looked after the young child so Mamoketi could finish her schooling.
16:24
Original sound
Mamoketi Lensa
mother of an albino
They say that my baby is an alien. Some things like that. He's not a human being, he's an alien. But I don't say anything, I just keeep quiet.
Many people do not want to accept those who look different from themselves. But they never think of how terrible it must be for the mother of such a child. In Africa it's particularly difficult for albinos. They don't belong to any population group - black or white. But it's hope that with an information campaign about albinos that the two year old Paseka will have an easier life in South Africa than his fellow albino sufferers.
ENDS 17:18