The Adonis Musati Project, named after a young Zimbabwean who died of starvation on the streets of Cape Town while waiting to get his asylum papers, was formed at the end of 2007 in the hopes that no refugee would die of starvation again in Cape Town.

Africa has many countries that are either in conflict or have economic situations that are so dire that people are forced to migrate in order to survive. A lot of refugees eventually make their way to the southern most tip of Africa. Here, rather than the relief they hoped for, they face many problems, including severe hardship, xenophobia and exclusion. The majority of these refugees are from Zimbabwe, where since the year 2000 the situation has deteriorated to an unprecedented degree, due to the devastating rule of Robert Mugabe. However, there are also refugees/migrants from countries like the DRC, Somalia, Burundi, Tanzania, Mozambique and Malawi.

In South Africa there is very little assistance given by the government for refugees. In fact they often face hostility from government officials. Therefore the little help that they get comes from NPO’s. The Adonis Musati Project is one of them.

The Adonis Musati Project is volunteer run and all storage facilities, places of distribution, telephone and computer facilities, and transport costs have been provided at no cost by volunteers. Although a good deal of the funding has come from the volunteers themselves, some large and small donations from caring individuals and groups have been of enormous assistance.

From November 2007 until mid 2008, the AM Project fed hundreds of refugees a hot meal several times a week as they queued for their asylum papers at Home Affairs on the Foreshore, many of these people sleeping and living right there on the street even during the cold winter months. Hundreds of bags of second-hand clothing were distributed, as well as thousands of blankets and sleeping bags. At Christmas time, hundreds of well-stocked toiletry bags were distributed, and since then toiletries have been handed out as they have been available. Many refugees have been assisted with transport to hospital, associated costs and basic medicines. Some refugees were assisted with transport to Zimbabwe to go and bury loved ones and comfort their families. Phone cards were purchased from time to time to help refugees make contact with their families back home. AM Project volunteers helped every refugee who requested, to compile, type and print his or her CV.

The AM Project also helped hundreds of refugees find accommodation in low-cost warehouses, shelters etc, paid for one to two month’s of their rent and provided some basic foodstuffs. For the vast majority of these people, there is a tangible difference in them once they have the restored dignity and security of a roof over their heads. They are able to more easily seek employment and then take over their rentals.

The project has also given financial assistance to many refugees for training in security, hospitality, sea faring, computer skills and driving skills, as well as for initial job + training needs e.g. safety boots, work overalls, registration and admin fees, books and manuals, medicals.

During the Xenophobic attacks in May 2008, hundreds of refugees were transported by AM volunteers to the various camps in the Peninsula. Buses and taxis were also hired by the Project to assist them with transport to and from the camps.

Towards the end of 2008, the asylum seekers had to queue at The Refugee Reception Centre in Nyanga to obtain documentation and so we had to change our modus operandi. Since then, ±800 sandwiches were made and ± 800 pieces of fruit donated by Adonis Musati volunteers each week to feed the asylum seekers that queue here. We also distributed (and continue to do so) carefully researched and compiled information brochures that outline where else refugees may seek assistance for legal difficulties, jobs, training etc. The conditions at Nyanga were shocking, with NO ablution facilities for the hundreds who waited outside.

The Refugee Reception Centre has since moved to better premises in Maitland and although corruption is still rife the location is much more accessible and safer.

The AM Project has been given temporary premises in Salt River since May 2009 at no cost enabling us to pour our resources into assisting refugees on the ground. We interview refugees here and assist with food parcels, clothing, CVs and other needs. Where possible we assist the most needy with short-term accommodation. We also help them start their own businesses e.g. hairdressing, sewing, painting etc. We only have the resources to see a limited number of refugees but we endeavour to give some assistance to everyone who asks for help.

In September 2009 we opened a refugee shelter called Musati House in Kommetjie. The home is run by house parents and accommodates 16 children and young people, many of them unaccompanied minors and orphans from Zimbabwe that we have found living on the streets of Cape Town. 9 of the children attend school now and the rest are engaged in skills training. Our goal is to increase the size of our premises in the near future to be able to assist the many young orphans, widows, HIV positive mothers and disabled refugees that come to us desperate for help.

Apart from the house parents, we employ a registered social worker (sponsored by a private donor). Three of our 4 staff members are refugees themselves.

There are always between 60 and 100 people who sleep outside under the bridges in the CBD, as they have no other accommodation. Many of these are highly skilled individuals and include accountants, teachers and tradesmen. We take food and blankets to these refugees when resources are available.

The Project desperately needs to raise funds in order to continue with this day to day provision of basic needs. Unless otherwise specified, donations given go directly to the pressing needs of individual refugees. An essential goal is to acquire a local building that will provide shelter for refugees who sleep and live on the streets. The Adonis Musati Project would also like to initiate “self-help” training projects where the refugees could learn entrepreneurial skills in order to start up their own small businesses.

Volunteers are always needed to:

If you are willing to help with any of the above, please contact Gayle who will incorporate you into our rosters.