An albino boy who went missing on his way home from school may have been snatched for a tribal sacrifice in South Africa

The disappearance of Sibisuso Nhatave, 14, prompted a police search in the eastern province of KwaZulu-Natal amid fears that he had been a victim of black magic. Albinism, a hereditary genetic condition, is viewed by many across Africa as magical and hundreds carrying the disorder have been killed for their body parts. Sibisuso was last seen on June 2, 2011 leaving Ikhandlela Junior Secondary School to make his way home. Despite police efforts there appears to be no trace of the pupil. Concerns over his welfare come after hundreds of albinos have been killed for muti - their organs - which are believed to have magical powers for spells and prayers. The practice is more common further north in the African continent, in countries including Tanzania, where the government introduced legislation to try and combat the problem. There, albino girls had been raped by men who believed it would be a cure for HIV/AIDS. The victims' blood, hair and genitals would all be taken by witchdoctors who maintained they would bring good luck.