‘Lonely’ South African refugee dies via suicide in the US

A South African refugee – Carin Cilliers – who arrived in the US just months ago, has taken her life via suicide. The woman reportedly experienced loneliness, depression and difficulty in finding employment in her new adoptive country.

SOUTH AFRICAN REFUGEE COMMITS SUICIDE

According to reports, Carin Cilliers took her own life on Tuesday, 8 September. The South African woman arrived in the US on 30 June and was initially placed in California before being resettled in Texas.

The 49-year-old – of Boksburg – had struggled with loneliness and depression and was desperately seeking employment.

Her cousin Yolandé Cilliers, also a refugee in the US, stated that Carin had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She had also expressed her desire to return to South Africa before taking her life.

Yolandé told the Ladysmith Gazette: “Many people think it is easy to start over. It is not, especially when you are taking on this journey alone”.

A fundraiser to help cover the costs of travelling to Houston, to arrange Carin’s cremation and estate has since been launched.

According to her LinkedIn page, Carin was an avid horse lover who had an equine business in South Africa, which she left behind.

She had posted several public appeals for remote and on-site work in the Houston area.

WHO PAYS FOR THEIR FUNERAL?

If a refugee dies in the US, their family can seek permission to have their body repatriated to South Africa. However, this is a costly and lengthy procedure, and given the sensitivity of the refugee programme, it is unlikely to be an option.

NGOs and resettlement agencies contracted by the Refugee Admissions Programme for South Africans (USRAP), as well as community crowdfunding initiatives, are likely to contribute financially to the funeral expenses.

As Carin Cilliers was settled in the state of Texas, and her next of kin was unable to cover the costs, the county where she died would be responsible for arranging and paying for a basic burial or cremation. If her family in South Africa wanted to arrange a funeral themselves or bring her remains home, they could do so, but they would have to cover those additional costs themselves.