Ina Skosana

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust – an albino family from Soweto wanted their neighbours to see that they get buried like “normal people”.

One of the many stereotypes linked to albinism is that when albinos die, they just vanish. However, Bishop Hamilton Thupa was buried at the weekend and his friends and family made sure his burial would go a step towards debunking this myth.

“Many people came to the funeral; some even wanted to see his body in the coffin so they could see for themselves that albinos are buried,” said Thupa’s widow, Rose.

Albinism is a hereditary condition in which a person is unable to produce melanin, which results in little or no colour in the skin, hair and eyes.

The condition can be limited to the eyes, or involve both eyes, hair and skin.

People living with albinism have been forced to deal with stigma and urban myths brewed by a lack of understanding of the condition.

People with albinism have suffered name calling, seclusion and, in extreme cases, they are hunted down and mutilated for muti (traditional medicine) purposes.

“I don’t let people’s comments get to me. But my children are very hurt by it,” said Rose.

“When I met my late husband, it didn’t matter to me that he had albinism. I fell in love with the person, not with the colour of his skin,” she said.

Thupa said her husband was a leader in the community and a man of God, serving for years with the Umlilo Wevangeli Church.

“People loved and respected him. He knew how to reach people,” she said.

inas@thenewage.co.za