The refugee community gathered on Che Guevara Street in Durban where Bienven Munga passed away before his burial. His brother recalled him as a 'good guy,' while other refugees and activists reflected on the hardships, hunger, and difficulties in obtaining medication that accompanied the man's final days.
Munga, aged 42, was buried on Wednesday. His brother stated that the family had lived with him for many years in South Africa and considered him a good person. Munga eventually chose to live with the refugee community after being expelled by anti-immigrant groups.
'He decided to go and live with the community after being kicked out by anti-immigrant groups. He came here to stay. But due to lack of food and the reality of life on the pavement, he died,' his brother reported. His death cast a dark shadow over the community that had shared the streets with him for months.
For the refugees, Munga's place of death ceased to be just a pavement near the Immigration Reception Centre. On Wednesday, it became a site of mourning. During the funeral, those who lived near him returned to the spot of his last breath to pay tribute and show respect.
Munga died on Monday, August 31st, after battling tuberculosis (TB) among hundreds of refugees near the Immigration Reception Centre. Bishop Raphael Bahceбва, who supported the refugees, noted that Munga's death served as a painful reminder of the difficult conditions in which the community found itself.
Bahceбва stated that the circumstances of the refugees' lives on Che Guevara Street should not define their identity. He emphasized that some members of the group possess professional qualifications and engage in any available work for survival. 'We have people here with master's degrees who are changing careers and doing things like working in beauty salons,' he said.
The Bishop noted that the group was relocated from previous living areas in May before ending up on Che Guevara Street. Their presence on the streets created the impression that they were undocumented or stateless, despite their claims of legal residency in South Africa. 'We know that people classify us as if we are not human, as if we are just street people,' Bahceбва added.
For months, the pavement near the Department of Home Affairs served as both a refuge and a place of deprivation for the displaced community. Munga's death drew renewed attention to the health issues faced by those sleeping there.
Bahceбва reported that Munga was receiving treatment for TB, but due to circumstances, it was difficult for him to take medication regularly. 'He was undergoing TB treatment, but because of problems getting chronic medication from the hospital, he took it irregularly. Secondly, he ran out of food,' he explained. Although donations helped the refugees survive, Bahceбва warned that the community cannot rely on one-off aid to meet basic needs indefinitely.
'We appreciate the people who bring us food, but we cannot force someone to keep helping us. We humbly ask, but there comes a point when a person takes TB medication, sometimes eats, and sometimes doesn't. That is why this person died,' he concluded.
For the Siyafana Sonke Action Campaign, Munga's funeral became an opportunity to support the community with whom they had connected during the refugees' long stay on Che Guevara Street. Yeshelen Govender said the group felt obligated to attend because Munga had become more than just a name in the news to them; he was a comrade. 'It is a truly sorrowful day for us because it is the funeral of one of the refugees who was actually here, who died a week ago. Today will be his funeral, and obviously, because of the relationship we built with this community, we felt it was important to be here because, essentially, one of our comrades has passed away,' Govender stated.
Govender also noted that their presence was related to offering condolences to Munga's family and the entire refugee community. 'We must be here to acknowledge his passing, honor his memory, and extend our condolences to his family and the surrounding community,' he added. Munga will be buried at Mariannhill Cemetery.