Another Shade Of Normal - Celebrating Diversity In Mdantsane

Another Very Beautiful Shade Of Normal - Mdantsane NU 12

On the 1st of February the Mdantsane Way Magazine had the pleasure to attend the ceremony of the handover of a 12 meter container funded by the National Development Agency NDA for the Imizamo Yethu For Elders Group in Mdantsane in NU 12 ( we are working on the article at present).

On this occasion we could witness one more time how much the township Mdantsane is an expression of the young democracy and its values, that has been established in South Africa in 1994.

During the ceremony the guests were surprised with an amazing performance of four beautiful South African children. The performance had been organized by the beneficiaries of the container.

Celebrating Diversity And Different Kinds Of Beauty in Mdantsane

Our young democracy, although a rule of majority has firmly embedded in its constitution the protection of the minorities in the society. For a country, that has no century long history of developing democratic values but has instead been dominated by a regime of suppression this process can be a challenge.

We have published these wonderful pictures for you today because they truly demonstrate how much South Africa has advanced and is constantly making progress on the path of democracy and celebration of diversity.

Mdantsane's Beautiful Children Performing At The Handover Ceremony Of The Imizamo Yethu Container For Elder Persons In Mdantsane In NU 12

The topic of albinism is one that lies close to our heart and it is one for which we would like to create awareness in the community.

In the South African black population, about 1 in 3900 people have oculocutaneous albinism while in the white population it is less common (1 in 15 000 people). There are about 10 000 affected individuals in South Africa.

There is still a certain amount of stigmatization of people with albinism in the community. For some people affected by albinism mean "bad luck".

The more we were happy to see on that day that prejudice is challenged by many now on a daily basis.  

Delighting The Public With Their Performance in NU 12 in Mdantsane

Albinism has been defined as an inherited absence of pigment (hypomelanosis) that is limited to the eye (ocular albinism), or involves the eye and skin (oculocutaneous albinism) and in which nystagmus (fast, rhythmical movement of the eye), decreased visual acuity and photophobia (fear of light) are present.

Oculocutaneous albinism is more common than ocular albinism and is inherited as an autosomal recessive disorder. In addition to poor vision, people with oculocutaneous albinism have hypopigmented skin which sunburns very easily and is highly susceptible to skin cancer. Although young children with albinism may be slower to crawl and walk due to visual problems, it is important to remember that their intelligence is within the normal range.

Creating awareness and educating the public about albinism in Mdantsane

Both public education about the condition and counseling for affected individuals and their families are required. 

A small parent support group in Johannesburg has been functioning under the auspices of SAIDA with more than 30 members all over the country. 

The objectives of this group are to educate the public about albinism, to provide support for affected families, and to support research into the condition. A second large group ( with more than 200 members) has also been established in Soweto.

We are re-publishing an article, that has caught our attention written by Johannesburg based David Smith for the Guardian on 2 of November 2012. This article profiles the fashion top model Thanda Hopa who has the condition of albinism.

South African model with albinism challenges prejudices

Thando Hopa is wowing the fashion world, but suffered prejudice as a child for condition others have been killed for having

• David Smith Johannesburg
• guardian.co.uk, Friday 2 November 2012 18.04 GMT

As a child with albinism, Thando Hopa was called names by her peers and regarded with superstition by the elderly. "Some saw me as good luck," she says, "and some saw me as bad luck."

Recently all eyes were on Hopa again. This time she was striding confidently down the catwalk and earning newspaper accolades as South Africa's "the new face of fashion" and "fashion's new colour".

The 23 year old is among a growing number of models with albinism challenging prejudice on a continent where the inherited condition – lack of pigment that affects the eyes, hair and skin – can lead to discrimination and even death.

Hopa grew up south of Johannesburg with constant reminders to wear hats and sunscreen to protect her sensitive skin. She credits a strong and protective family for keeping her self-esteem intact. A full-time legal prosecutor, she had no thoughts of modelling until a chance meeting with fashion designer Gert-Johan Coetzee at a shopping mall.

"After two minutes he said, 'Hi miss, are you interested in modelling?' I was open to it. SA fashion week was an overwhelming experience, a different world altogether with so much creativity."

One in 4,000 people in South Africa has albinism. They suffer prejudic from employers and lack of recognition by government, say activists. Last year the kidnapping of a 14-year-old boy with albinism was blamed on traditional beliefs.

There are hopes that positive portrayals of albinism can make a difference. "I really hope so," Hopa said. "I received some very positive feedback from young girls with albinism. If you don't see positive examples, you wallow in self-pity. I just hope it turns into another shade of normal."

Coetzee said he was bowled over when he first ran into Hopa. "It was amazing, like somebody was shining a light at the side of my head," he said. "She was beautiful, with the perfect body and the perfect bone structure. She was glowing like an angel.

"I've always wanted to do a show with someone with albinism and never found the right girl. When I saw her everything I was working on came together. Her skin is as white as milk, stripped of colour. There are endless possibilities."

Coetzee added: "She was excited that she can be role model for girls with albinism. It's something to embrace rather than something to hide."

Hopa follows Refilwe Modiselle, a model with albinism from Soweto who has been modelling since age 13 and now the face of South African fashion chain Legit. "I'm a black girl who lives in the skin of a white person and that alone should embody what a human being as a whole should represent," she told the BBC recently.

But in east Africa particularly, people with albinism are believed by some to have mystical and healing power, putting them at risk of abduction and mutilation. Body parts are used in witchcraft or buried under businesses to bring wealth.

Under the Same Sun, an advocacy and education group, estimated that 71 people with albinism were killed in Tanzania between 2006 and 2012, while 31 survived machete attacks. In June this year the body of a man was discovered with several of his body parts missing.

Richard Mgamba, a Tanzanian journalist who has investigated the trade in body parts, said the example of Hopa shows "there are two different worlds for people with albinism: one where they are being hunted and killed, the other where they are being given opportunities to live like everyone else".

He added: "In my country they are not given these opportunities. They are feared and treated as second class citizens. In South Africa we see a different story – a model with albinism – and for me that's very encouraging."