A groundbreaking regional declaration signed by Southern African leaders in August has thrust the plight of persons with albinism into the political spotlight, offering new hope to communities that have endured decades of persecution, violence, and social exclusion.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Declaration on the Protection of Persons with Albinism, signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa and other heads of state at the SADC Summit in Madagascar on 17 August 2025, commits member nations to concrete action against the discrimination and violence that have claimed countless lives across the region.
“This is a landmark achievement in advancing the safety and protection of the rights of persons with albinism,” said Patrick Wadula, National Chairperson of the National Albinism Task Force (NATF). “This milestone comes after years during which persons with albinism have endured discrimination, social exclusion, and marginalisation from socio-economic activities.”
The declaration addresses a brutal reality: across Southern Africa, particularly in Tanzania, Malawi, Angola, Mozambique, and South Africa, persons with albinism face attacks, abductions, and murders driven by deeply entrenched beliefs that their body parts possess supernatural powers exploitable through witchcraft rituals. Many victims have been trafficked across borders within the SADC region.
Albinism is a rare, non-contagious genetic condition affecting people of all races, genders, and ethnicities worldwide. It prevents the body from producing melanin, the pigment responsible for skin, hair, and eye colouration, resulting in very pale skin and significant health vulnerabilities.
The SADC Declaration represents a united commitment by member states to implement preventive, protective, and anti-discriminatory measures at both regional and national levels, working alongside civil society and other stakeholders.
For South African advocacy groups, the declaration offers powerful ammunition in a long-fought battle. The NATF developed a comprehensive National Action Plan (NAP) for Persons with Albinism in 2019, identifying key challenges and proposing solutions to improve lives nationwide. Yet nearly five years later, the South African government has yet to formally adopt it.
Several other SADC countries – including Angola, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, Malawi, Uganda, Togo, and Zambia – have already implemented similar national action plans.
“With the signing of the SADC Declaration, the government is now compelled to collaborate with the NATF to realise the Declaration’s objectives,” Wadula said. “The NAP represents an ideal framework to translate the commitments of the SADC Declaration into concrete actions.”
The NATF is currently engaging multiple government departments and constitutional institutions – including the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, and the Human Rights Commission – to push for formal adoption of the plan.
The appeal comes as National Albinism Awareness Month concludes, with advocacy groups intensifying pressure on governments to move from promises to action. For communities that have lived with fear, violence, and marginalisation, the declaration represents not just policy progress, but a potential lifeline.
Whether political commitments will translate into meaningful protection on the ground remains the critical test ahead.
- The National Albinism Task Force is a registered non-governmental organisation promoting inclusion and empowerment of persons with albinism across South Africa.
