Migrant mothers desperate for a better life for their children

“We left our country because it was not a safe place,' said Justine Zaina (46) from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, “We South Africa is a place with human rights and a secure country for us and our families, but now...' Zaina, like many others, came to South Africa from DRC in 2005 to escape the war.

Recent Xenophobic attacks have left many migrants seeking protection, safety and answers from both the government and UNCHR.   For that reason, displaced people have been occupying streets in front of the UNHCR buildings since 8 October, situated in the Waterkloof region.

Living on the streets for a month has not been easy, especially on mothers and their children.

Zaina stays in a section of the street with her two children and sister, Charlotte Fonolundula and her three children. Zaina’s husband died during the war in Congo, which resulted in Zaina and her sisters' escape to South Africa.

Fonolundula shares this tent with her sister and all the children sleep on a mattress outside the tent.

After prayers, sometimes, migrants go to the water pipe for a “quick bathe' on the corner of Waterkloof Road and Pienaar Street in front of the UNICEF Equity House building.

Migrants also use water to wash their clothes.

After bathing (and perhaps washing clothes), migrants return to their tents waiting for news. The waiting gams is sometimes painful and uncomfortable, especially if you are not feeling well. “As you can see we don’t have anything to hide from the sun with and the sun is strong,' said Aysha Ramdhini from Congo, “and when it rains we also sit here with our kids but we are not going anywhere.' Ramdhini shares the camp with her seven children.

She is suffering in other ways too, but has been rejected from hospital.  "I have this cyst in my stomach and when I go there {to hospital} they said to me "you must go to a hospital in your country, go be sick in your country".' She has been unable to have the cyst removed. "I was attacked in a hospital, yes even doctors and nurses attack us."

Ramdhini is not the only one who has been mistreated by health practitioners. Nysha Nongu (who left DRC in 2010) said that in September her child was sick and she took him to Steve Biko Hospital.  "They kept saying to me "go back to your country".'

One of the migrant leaders, Alex Mongo Nkoy, says he tries his best to get what he can for the mothers and children. “We need food, the babies need the Pampers (nappies) and the women and girls need sanitary towels,' Nkoy said, “I have a daughter and a son, and I know the need to protect your child."