By Katlego Sekhu
Joining 959 Breakfast with Dineo Ranaka and Sol Phenduka is actor Tebatso Mashishi.
Mashishi is popular for his role as Papi in the popular film Matwetwe.
He also works behind the scenes on Muvhango.
Speaking about Albinism awareness month, the actor says as someone who lives with the condition, there is a lot he doesn’t agree with, including the term Albino.
“Albino means white and ‘ism’ goes for the condition, so for the mere fact that we are identified as a condition, then that’s the label I get. It also means a lot more can be done with awareness.”
Tebatso says growing up, Albinism was seen as taboo.
“It was before google when information was not there. My parents realised that playing in the sun wasn’t good for my skin. Sunscreen is so expensive and should be free.”
Because so little was known about his condition in his community, Tebatso had to move to a different school.
“I had to go a school with blind people and people of the same condition because the primary school sako gae did not understand
“We don’t see very well. You can imagine people in the rural areas with this condition.”
Tebogo says the first time he saw himself in the cinema, he cried because he saw someone that looks like him as a superstar.
“As someone who has done it against all odds.”
Listen to Tebogo Mashishi on 959 Breakfast wth Dineo Ranaka and Sol Phenduka
