Congolese refugee Kiza Rajabu is seeking to return to his homeland after spending the past 26 years in South Africa.
Driven by a deep longing for home and an enduring struggle with documentation challenges, Rajabu contacted Conviction seeking advice on making arrangements for voluntary repatriation to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Rajabu said he fled the DRC in 1999 due to the ongoing conflict that shattered his homeland. After initially seeking refuge in Johannesburg, he later moved to Northam in Limpopo, where he has lived with the weight of an unrelenting refugee status. Throughout this time, he has grappled with the emotional toll of displacement, feeling perpetually like an outsider in a country that has been his home for more than two decades.
“Most of the time I felt empty, an outsider and not belonging,” Rajabu shared, reflecting on the scars of long-term displacement. The painful history of being cut off from family and community has left a lasting impact; he hasn’t been able to travel outside South Africa since his arrival. “I couldn’t go to bury my family members. I can’t even go to Lesotho to my wife’s home country,” he lamented.
Enduring documentation struggles and the weight of refugee status
This yearning for connection is further complicated by legal hurdles. Rajabu’s attempts to reclaim his DRC citizenship have been thwarted by a complex web of documentation issues that he describes as “frustrating.” The lack of valid travel documents has limited opportunities not only for him but also for his son, who has faced educational setbacks as a result. “I’m really tired; I just want to go back home,” he expressed with palpable distress.
Despite the challenges, Rajabu remains resolute about his decision to repatriate, particularly to Lubumbashi, a region he describes as relatively peaceful compared to others in the DRC. The motivation to return stems not just from a desire for personal safety, but from the hope of rebuilding a life free from the stigma of refugee status. “As much as South Africa has been home for many of us, going back home will always be the best decision,” he said.
Voluntary repatriation is when you return home to your country of origin after making a free and informed decision to return. When you voluntarily repatriate home, you will no longer be a refugee or an asylum seeker, as you will have chosen to return to the protection of your own government.
Now, as he seeks legal assistance for his repatriation, Rajabu is looking for guidance on the necessary steps to ensure a safe return, including the provision of paperwork and travel arrangements for himself and his family. His appeal represents not only his personal longing but the broader plight of long-term refugees in similar situations.
“I just want to go back home, please,” he implored, a powerful testament to the innate human desire to belong. For many like Rajabu, the dream of returning home is steeped in hope, tempered by challenges, and infused with an unyielding will to reclaim their identity.
The Lawyers for Human Rights has urged Rajabu to contact its Refugee and Migrant Rights Programme, which has been running since 1996, for assistance. The programme has walk-in law clinics which provide legal advice and representation, to ensure due process for asylum seekers and refugees. It also builds networks and is part of the social justice movement to combat xenophobia through engagement and education at community level.
The programme is the largest legal service provider to refugees and asylum seekers in South Africa. The walk-in clinics can be found at our offices in Pretoria, Johannesburg and Durban.
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