For decades, conflict, political instability and economic hardship have forced people from across the African continent to seek safety beyond their national borders. During Zimbabwe's political and economic crisis, thousands fled into neighbouring South Africa in search of refuge, security and the possibility of rebuilding their lives.

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In central Johannesburg, the Central Methodist Church became an unexpected sanctuary. For several years, its halls, corridors and stairwells provided shelter to hundreds of displaced people, transforming a place of worship into a place of survival, resilience and hope.

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In March 2008, during Zimbabwe's presidential election, I spent time with the church's residents as they waited anxiously for the outcome. Many longed for political change but feared returning home to vote, worried that they or their families would face violent reprisals. Some asked not to be identified, believing anonymity offered their loved ones a measure of protection.

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Sanctuary of Exile documents a community suspended between two worlds—unable to return home, yet uncertain of what lay ahead. More than a story of migration, these photographs explore displacement, dignity and the universal search for safety, reminding us that behind every statistic is an individual searching for hope, belonging and a place to call home.