A refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo said she never planned to leave her homeland until her husband disappeared in 2003‚ and her life was put in danger.
Marceline Sangara was speaking at the World Refugee Day event hosted by the Catholic Archdiocese of Johannesburg on Monday.
Events are taking place around the world to draw attention to people who have been forcefully removed from their homes – more than 16-million people are uprooted around the world‚ according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – and the #WorldRefugeeDay hashtag trended in SA on Monday morning.
Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba‚ who was expected to address the Johannesburg event later in the day‚ had earlier visited a shelter for refugees in Bertrams.
The shelter‚ which was opened in 1999‚ accommodates 18 women and 18 children and offers refugees and asylum seekers skills needed for their survival as they integrate into the community.
Sangara said‚ like other children‚ she finished her matric before going to a nursing school and started working at a big hospital in Bukavu.
“I got married to my beautiful husband and I delivered six children‚” she said‚ but trouble started for her when her husband disappeared in 2003. He had previously been arrested and released in the 1990s by authorities.
“I was able to take care of my children. By reporting that my husband was missing‚ I was subjected to torture and arrest.
“My hospital director said to me I better seek refuge in another country. He told me that‚ at the time of my release‚ I should not stay in the country as I might be killed. I never planned to leave my homeland.”
She said that when she was released she fled to Uvira‚ a city 108km away from Bukavu province.
She asked her hospital boss to bring her kids.
“When my boss arrived‚ he found my home has been burnt down and only three children could be found.”
She then fled to Zambia
“I went to Zambia and I did not know anyone in Zambia‚” she said‚ adding that her main problem was communication‚ as she spoke only fluent French and Swahili.
“I found truck drivers who said they were going to South Africa. They said I was not safe in Zambia and advised me to travel to South Africa. We spent four days on the road and they dropped me in what I know as Isando.
“I remember the day. It was 18 March 2005 and we spent the night outside without blankets and food. It was not easy.”
She stayed with the younger brother of the driver who brought her to SA for two weeks and during that period‚ was taken to to to the Home Affairs offices in Rosettenville.
“They gave me asylum papers and for my three children.”
An organisation that took care of refugees paid for her rent and gave her food money for three months.
“I started to look for a job. I ended up selling small clothes in the streets to survive‚” Sangara said‚ adding that she had problems with metro police officials‚ who confiscated her clothing.
She said the organisation extended its assistance for three months as two of her children were sick.
“I ended up becoming a security guard in 2006‚ and it was not easy for me. If I go back to my family‚ I look at my degree in nursing school and the life I am living taking care of cars. It was stressful.
“You expect R5‚ he throws 20c. You put that money together you have R80 or R100 to pay rent and feed the children.”
Sangara received her refugee status in 2009.
“I feel like this is now my home. I can speak some Zulu.” — TMG Digital
World Refugee Day: ‘I feel like SA is now my home’
A refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo said she never planned to leave her homeland until her husband disappeared in 2003‚ and her life was put in danger.
Marceline Sangara was speaking at the World Refugee Day event hosted by the Catholic Archdiocese of Johannesburg on Monday.
Events are taking place around the world to draw attention to people who have been forcefully removed from their homes – more than 16-million people are uprooted around the world‚ according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – and the #WorldRefugeeDay hashtag trended in SA on Monday morning.
Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba‚ who was expected to address the Johannesburg event later in the day‚ had earlier visited a shelter for refugees in Bertrams.
The shelter‚ which was opened in 1999‚ accommodates 18 women and 18 children and offers refugees and asylum seekers skills needed for their survival as they integrate into the community.
Sangara said‚ like other children‚ she finished her matric before going to a nursing school and started working at a big hospital in Bukavu.
“I got married to my beautiful husband and I delivered six children‚” she said‚ but trouble started for her when her husband disappeared in 2003. He had previously been arrested and released in the 1990s by authorities.
“I was able to take care of my children. By reporting that my husband was missing‚ I was subjected to torture and arrest.
“My hospital director said to me I better seek refuge in another country. He told me that‚ at the time of my release‚ I should not stay in the country as I might be killed. I never planned to leave my homeland.”
She said that when she was released she fled to Uvira‚ a city 108km away from Bukavu province.
She asked her hospital boss to bring her kids.
“When my boss arrived‚ he found my home has been burnt down and only three children could be found.”
She then fled to Zambia
“I went to Zambia and I did not know anyone in Zambia‚” she said‚ adding that her main problem was communication‚ as she spoke only fluent French and Swahili.
“I found truck drivers who said they were going to South Africa. They said I was not safe in Zambia and advised me to travel to South Africa. We spent four days on the road and they dropped me in what I know as Isando.
“I remember the day. It was 18 March 2005 and we spent the night outside without blankets and food. It was not easy.”
She stayed with the younger brother of the driver who brought her to SA for two weeks and during that period‚ was taken to to to the Home Affairs offices in Rosettenville.
“They gave me asylum papers and for my three children.”
An organisation that took care of refugees paid for her rent and gave her food money for three months.
“I started to look for a job. I ended up selling small clothes in the streets to survive‚” Sangara said‚ adding that she had problems with metro police officials‚ who confiscated her clothing.
She said the organisation extended its assistance for three months as two of her children were sick.
“I ended up becoming a security guard in 2006‚ and it was not easy for me. If I go back to my family‚ I look at my degree in nursing school and the life I am living taking care of cars. It was stressful.
“You expect R5‚ he throws 20c. You put that money together you have R80 or R100 to pay rent and feed the children.”
Sangara received her refugee status in 2009.
“I feel like this is now my home. I can speak some Zulu.” — TMG Digital
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