Nomasonto Mazibuko

Nomasonto Mazibuko, an educator, has worked for the Department of Education for a period that spreads over three decades. She devoted her life to fiercely advocating for persons with albinism in South Africa and throughout the African continent. Inspired by the spirit of Africanism, she founded the Albinism Society of South Africa (ASSA) and the Pan African Albinism Alliance (PAAA).

Her advocacy has ensured the recognition of persons with albinism by the United Nations by declaring June 13 as International Albinism Day.  Her passion for disability rights resulted in being appointed a member of the Presidential Working Committee, the National Disability Policy review panel as well as several boards and initiatives in support of social justice.  Examples of these structures are:

• The Panel of Arbitrators for Non-Profit Organisation undersigned to the Department of Social Development where she acts as chairperson;
• The Department of Arts and Culture where she is a Social Cohesion Advocate;
• The Section 11 Committee on Children’s Rights and Rights of persons with disability for the South African Human Rights Commission; and
• The Platform of Champions where Nomasonto leverages and amplifies the work undertaken, to achieve United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 8.5 on equal pay for work of equal value between men and women globally.