Twenty-three-year-old Zimbabwean Adonis Musati came to South Africa in pursuit of a better life. He died of starvation whilst waiting, for two weeks, for his asylum papers in Nyanga.

A former policeman, Musati's dream of becoming a priest — and, indeed, his life — was crushed by the inhospitable conditions of the South African asylum system.

Refugees are forced to spend days outside the offices while waiting for their applications to be processed. They go for days without any food or water. Home Affairs reported that 8000 Zimbabweans apply for asylum daily, but there's not a single toilet or tap outside the Nyanga offices.

Gahlia Brogneri and Terry Hodston, touched by the plight and death of Musati, decided to do something about the refugee crisis. They founded a non-profit organisation and they named it the Adonis Musati Project (AMP).

Brogneri says: "How we respond as a nation to the human suffering of the refugees entering South Africa in search of help is often dependent upon our own situation. The recent xenophobic violence is a matter of grave concern, but the national culture of ubuntu is very heartening.

"Each person may display a different way of dealing with a problem that will not disappear and needs to be addressed in a manner that will benefit everyone striving to make a living and provide for their families."

The organisation has two paid refugee employees and the rest of the staff is made up of volunteers. The organisation, which provides temporary assistance rather than permanent housing, is currently assisting 300 refugees.

The project gives financial assistance to the refugees for security training, hospitality and computer skills. It also helps refugees put together CVs and provides material help in the form of food, toiletries and blankets.

The organisation was offered a house between Kommetjie and Fish Hoek, which became a home to 14 young boys who are trying to get back on their feet.

"These boys, who travelled to South Africa alone, have no other place to stay. Teenagers are the most vulnerable group and if left on the streets they [are] coerced into all kinds of criminal activity. Some of them have already been through this," says Brogneri.

They also have an old warehouse in Salt River, where they are housing 90 refugees with small children. However, the house is falling apart, there are only two toilets and the kitchen has only an old sink.

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