SA woman sentenced to 20 years for allegedly trying to sell an albino child to a traditional healer for R100 000

Cape Town – A 34-year-old woman who reportedly tried to sell an albino child to a traditional healer has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment by the Ingwavuma Regional Court in northern KwaZulu-Natal.

The woman reportedly wanted the traditional healer to pay R100 000 for the 11-year-old child, reports said.

East Coast Radio reported that the traditional healer, James Mthembu, reported the matter to the police.

The report said thgat the woman approached Mthembu and told him that she could arrange an 11-year-old albino child from her neighbourhood.

The woman wanted the traditional healer to use the child for traditional medicine and R100 000 in return, the report said.

National Prosecuting Authority (KZN) spokesperson, Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said they hoped that the sentence addressed the myth of killing people living with albinism for the purpose of traditional medicines, the report said.

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The court heard that the woman approached Mthembu in June 2016 and asked him to contact her if he wanted to see the boy, reported IOL.

Mthembu informed the police and asked them to accompany him and the police thought the information could assist with a missing child case.

Mthembu arranged to meet the woman and she was then arrested and charged with attempted human trafficking, the report said.

The court also heard how the child and the mother lived in fear since the offence and that other mothers with children living with albinism also feared for their children’s lives.

However, Director of Public Prosecutions in KZN, Advocate Elaine Zungu said they would continue to fight for justice for vulnerable groups and victims of crime.