Did he die of hunger on a Cape Town street?

3 November 2007, 10:11

By Clayton Barnes

Adonis Musati, a Zimbabwean asylum seeker and a familiar face to many at Cape Town's Home Affairs office, died on a pavement just metres from the Foreshore office on Friday.

Musati, 24, is believed to have died of hunger.

Bennett Hodi, the last to see Musati alive, said he came zigzagging across the road towards the Cape Town International Convention Centre on Friday morning and asked a construction worker for money to buy a loaf of bread.

Hodi, a guard at a nearby construction site, said although none of the workers had money, a colleague decided to buy the bread as they could see Musati was hungry and weak.

"He told us he hadn't eaten in two weeks," said Hodi. "We gave him the bread and he finished half a loaf in seconds.

"He then asked for water and swallowed a few sips before lying down under a tree on the island opposite the Convention Centre.

"A few minutes later we noticed he was lying on his back with his legs and arms stretched out. That's when we rushed over and saw he wasn't breathing. We immediately called the police."

Braam Hanekom, chairperson of People Against Suffering, Suppression, Oppression and Poverty (Passop), was greeted by a crowd of people standing around Musati's body after being released from the holding cells at Cape Town Central police station on Friday afternoon.

Hanekom and a member of his refugee advocacy group were arrested on Thursday night after a peaceful sit-in by desperate asylum seekers turned violent when they clashed with police.

The refugees refused to leave the department's premises after waiting more than seven hours to be served.

Hanekom said Musati's death had left the refugees heartbroken and angry.

"These guys have a strong bond, they are like a family," said Hanekom. "These refugees have nowhere to go, nothing to eat and nowhere to live.

"They depend on begging in the streets bordering the Home Affairs office to stay alive.

"This is unfortunate and if nothing is done, we are definitely going to see more refugees dying on the streets of this country."

Patrick Chauke, chairperson of Parliament's Home Affairs Portfolio Committee, was on the scene and said Musati's death was a tragedy.

"This is not good, but we are trying our best to process the paperwork for all refugees as effectively and efficiently as possible," said Chauke. "Our condolences go out to the family.

"The next step now is to get in contact with the Zimbabwean authorities and their embassy. We'll do our best to see that the deceased gets a proper burial. If his family is located in time we might be able to transport his body back."

Musati's friend, Steve Mabambe, said he was saddened by Musati's death and feared living on the streets of Cape Town.

"I came here for a better life, but it looks like we will all die if we don't get asylum and jobs soon," said Mabambe.

Senior Superintendent Billy Jones said an inquest docket was opened.



This article was originally published on page 5 of The Cape Argus on November 03, 2007