Durban Refugee Dies of TB After Months Living on Pavement on Che Guevara Road

• Bienvenue Munga, a documented refugee, died on Monday after his tuberculosis treatment was disrupted while living on a Durban pavement
• Around 250 refugees have been sleeping on Che Guevara Road since 22 May following their eviction from local communities by hostile groups
• Refugee leaders rejected the government's offer to relocate to the Lindela Repatriation Centre, describing it as a deportation facility

DURBAN — A documented refugee has died on a Durban pavement after months without adequate shelter disrupted his tuberculosis treatment, deepening a health crisis among a group of displaced people living on Che Guevara Road.

According to IOL, community leaders identified the deceased as Bienvenue Munga, who died on Monday. According to representatives within the group, his death followed a prolonged breakdown in his daily medication regimen, which became impossible to maintain under pavement living conditions without consistent food or shelter.

Refugees stranded on Durban streets since May

Read also

Watch: Undocumented workers jump over walls to flee Joburg Mayor's construction site blitz

Approximately 250 refugees have occupied the pavement on Che Guevara Road since 22 May, after hostile community members drove them out of their former neighbourhoods. Community representatives said the state provided no shelter, food, or medical assistance during this period, leaving NGOs to meet the group's basic needs. For refugees managing chronic illnesses, the inability to adhere to treatment schedules has had life-threatening consequences.

Deputy government spokesperson William Baloyi stated in July that those living on the street were encouraged to return to their former communities or accept temporary housing at the Lindela Repatriation Centre in Gauteng. The government confirmed it would not establish a separate programme for foreign nationals who refused both options.

Lindela offer rejected as deportation risk

Refugee leaders pushed back strongly against the Lindela proposal, arguing that the facility functions as a deportation centre rather than a place of safety. Despite this objection, 105 members of the group eventually agreed to the transfer. The refugees who remained chose to stay on Che Guevara Road, saying they feared returning to the townships where they had previously been targeted and that going back to their countries of origin was not a safe option.

Munga's death has intensified calls from community representatives for the government to provide safe, dedicated accommodation for the group. Without a resolution, those with chronic conditions on the pavement face continued risk as winter persists and access to medical care remains limited.

Read also

From refugee to Green Card: What happens after resettlement in the US

Malawian national dies on repatriation bus

In a related article, Briefly News reported on the tragic death of a Malawian national during a repatriation bus trip from South Africa to Malawi, sparking a forensic investigation by the South African Police Service. This incident underscores the serious challenges faced in migrant repatriation amid rising anti-immigrant sentiments and the need for humanitarian assistance for vulnerable individuals in crisis.

Source: Briefly News