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Cape Town - Inspirational DJ and artist Leon Botha has died aged 26.
Botha was diagnosed with progeria at age 4, and is believed to have been one of the longest-surviving sufferers of the condition before his passing on Sunday.
Typically, sufferers of progeria, a rare genetic condition which causes the appearance of premature aging, live only to their teens.
Botha was known for both his DJ and artistic talent, notably appearing in the Enter the Ninja music video for rap group Die Antwoord.
Botha appeared in a television insert for actuality show Carte Blanche that focused on progeria.
While his Facebook page on Monday saw tributes from friends and fans, weblog BlaBla posted a quote attributed to Botha:
"I am aware that I might be the oldest person with this "condition" alive on this planet at the moment & if so, I really don’t care to know, or be labelled as such.
"I'm not really in contact with medical research or the [Progeria] foundation. It has been my choice not to be. This "condition" is so rare that it just draws way too much attention.
"I am too focused on living my life as it is, to constantly draw my energy or focus towards my physical "state". Just like any other human being, I don’t like to be reduced to a condition or a statistic & I sure as hell won’t end up on one of the photos to be paraded on websites to inspire pity & shit… wrong guy."
VIDEO: Chinese Water Torture (DJ Solarize/ Leon Botha)
Botha was diagnosed with progeria at age 4, and is believed to have been one of the longest-surviving sufferers of the condition before his passing on Sunday.
Typically, sufferers of progeria, a rare genetic condition which causes the appearance of premature aging, live only to their teens.
Botha was known for both his DJ and artistic talent, notably appearing in the Enter the Ninja music video for rap group Die Antwoord.
Botha appeared in a television insert for actuality show Carte Blanche that focused on progeria.
While his Facebook page on Monday saw tributes from friends and fans, weblog BlaBla posted a quote attributed to Botha:
"I am aware that I might be the oldest person with this "condition" alive on this planet at the moment & if so, I really don’t care to know, or be labelled as such.
"I'm not really in contact with medical research or the [Progeria] foundation. It has been my choice not to be. This "condition" is so rare that it just draws way too much attention.
"I am too focused on living my life as it is, to constantly draw my energy or focus towards my physical "state". Just like any other human being, I don’t like to be reduced to a condition or a statistic & I sure as hell won’t end up on one of the photos to be paraded on websites to inspire pity & shit… wrong guy."
VIDEO: Chinese Water Torture (DJ Solarize/ Leon Botha)
