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My heart is bleeding for my country tonight

354 replies

TrixieLou · 12/07/2021 22:03

Name changed and posting here for traffic.

I have been resident in the UK for 15 years but I am originally from Kwazulu Natal, South Africa. My country is on fire. It has been mentioned on the news today but the football has completely overshadowed the story. My family live in the worst hit area. Shopping centres have been looted and destroyed. Thousands of criminals have been shooting, looting, throwing grenades and setting off bombs. I had my father on the phone earlier and could hear gunshots in the background. The police and the military are doing nothing. My brothers are currently blocking off their roads with their vans. They are armed with guns. Most of their neighbours are there too. They are watching thousands of angry protesters approach from the valley below. Gunshots. Fire. Bombs. There is black smoke billowing in the air from trucks and cars being set on fire. Thousands of people are walking on the streets carrying merchandise from destroyed shopping centres. People are shooting at each other. They have said that this is only the beginning. Private homes will be next. The homes that house my family and friends. My family are scared for their lives tonight. I just had my father in tears on the phone, telling me he doesn’t know what is going to happen tonight and that he loves me. He never got to meet my new baby.

Please pray for South Africa tonight. Or send good thoughts if you don’t pray. They will never recover from this. They were already on their knees.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
Allington · 13/07/2021 18:58

Yep, hope everyone is safe. Including those who live with this level if violence as 'normal'

mbosnz · 13/07/2021 18:59

Would you leave the hell off?!

Allington · 13/07/2021 19:01

Nope. Because all too many people live with this level of violence as normal.

No one should have to

Allington · 13/07/2021 19:03

This reply has been deleted

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NotExactlyHappyToHelp · 13/07/2021 19:14

@Allington would you leave this thread alone for gods sake?!

Or should I pop over to your thread and start lecturing haranguing and pontificating to you over the plight of Syrian refugees or the oppressed starving people of North Korea??

I’m sure you might take agin to that so I should take that to mean that you don’t care about those people living in exceptionally difficult dangerous circumstances by your logic.

user615632456321125 · 13/07/2021 19:21

@Allington

You're outraged that people for whom you have no compassion and to whom you have been openly hostile and contemptuous, are not showing you compassion for something that matters to you?

You must be very damaged by the things you've seen to no longer have compassion for others or to think for one second that your behaviour on this thread has been acceptable.

You've jumped on what was very clearly a support thread not a discussion thread to lecture people and demand they prostrate themselves before you - can you genuinely not comprehend why you haven't had the response you wanted?

People are perfectly entitled to ask for support in moments of fear or distress without first having to list all the people who "have it worse" that they feel compassion for.

I sincerely doubt the 8 year old you keep referencing would actually want you to be using her horrific trauma as some sort of perverted trump card and using it to justify attacking people in their own moment of distress. That's despicable.

Shame on you.

Hobnobswantshernameback · 13/07/2021 19:22

Stop feeding the troll
Ignore ignore ignore

Blowingagale · 13/07/2021 19:25

@Allington
Am yes I sad and thinking about people including children all over the world experiencing violence.

No I haven’t given causes that work with any community in SA or to any relating to rape in particular or peace in SA.

If an individual raises awareness of particular situations in MN or elsewhere I look at it. If I’m asked to pray I do as I have a religious faith, if not I still think about the poster/issue.

I’m going to see if I can find your thread now.
Please leave this one. The way you have come across here actually makes me not want to look at very valid concerns you may have.

Allington · 13/07/2021 19:25

Hmmm I expect the 8 year old (fostered by an ex-colleague who became a good friend) would have quite liked some counselling. Which her family would have found the money for in 99% of cases if she was white. Let alone not being in that situation in the first place.

As I said, the issue isn't even the rape of a child, it is that the rape of a child in some communities doesn't even make the newspapers

HypocriteHunter · 13/07/2021 19:26

Sure, once it is acknowledged that so many communities face this most of the time.

That it is a privilege to feel threatened every few years

It is never a privilege for anyone to feel threatened.

What a terrible thing to write.

Allington · 13/07/2021 19:26

I am sorry the truth is so difficult to face...

Allington · 13/07/2021 19:28

[quote Blowingagale]@Allington
Am yes I sad and thinking about people including children all over the world experiencing violence.

No I haven’t given causes that work with any community in SA or to any relating to rape in particular or peace in SA.

If an individual raises awareness of particular situations in MN or elsewhere I look at it. If I’m asked to pray I do as I have a religious faith, if not I still think about the poster/issue.

I’m going to see if I can find your thread now.
Please leave this one. The way you have come across here actually makes me not want to look at very valid concerns you may have.[/quote]
Well, if being confronted with the truth makes you want to avoid the truth that's up to you

sqirrelfriends · 13/07/2021 19:28

I'm so sorry you're going through this OP, I am keeping all those affected in my thoughts and praying for a swift end to the violence.

Most of my family members moved out of SA a few years ago but I still have aunts and cousins there, all around KZN and they are very scared.

This thread is not the place for it but my family and friends have experienced violence in the past and I know of more than one family that has been murdered. It's a beautiful place, but it's not safe.

captainjacksparrow · 13/07/2021 19:30

And yet @Allington you’ve left your dd1 there. She could study SW in the UK.

I’m actually astounded you were allowed to adopt. You appear deeply unhinged.

Allington · 13/07/2021 19:30

@HypocriteHunter

Sure, once it is acknowledged that so many communities face this most of the time.

That it is a privilege to feel threatened every few years

It is never a privilege for anyone to feel threatened.

What a terrible thing to write.

You can't see that being threatened on a daily basis going to and from work or school, is worse than occasional outbursts of violence every few years?

Really?

Of course no one should face violence at all. But you can't see that daily violence is something that should make your 'heart break'?

Wow

Allington · 13/07/2021 19:39

@captainjacksparrow

And yet *@Allington* you’ve left your dd1 there. She could study SW in the UK.

I’m actually astounded you were allowed to adopt. You appear deeply unhinged.

DD1 turned 18 before I could legally adopt her. She has a full scholarship to UCT to study social work, which is a scarce skill here so she should be able to come and work here once qualified. Obviously I continue to provide emotional and financial support beyond that.

DD2 has SEN which weren't being met in SA, but have been supported by her amazing school here - EHCP being processed.

My elderly parents have also benefited from my return, and will not need state support for far longer as I am around.

Allington · 13/07/2021 19:43

So DD1 is not eligible to study here, but has a great package of support to study in an amazing uni in SA. I hope she will end up here in the UK because I would love to have her with me, but also recognise that her experiences and skills will benefit communities in SA.

That will be her choice, with my full support.

captainjacksparrow · 13/07/2021 19:43

Social work is not a “scarce skill” in the UK

get a grip

Allington · 13/07/2021 19:47

Actually it is Grin at present, child and family SW is on the list.

I know several SWs who came to the UK from SA for a few years and earned enough to buy a house with minimal bond (SA term for mortgage).

Who knows whether that will be the same when DD1 qualifies? But the reality is the UK is not producing enough Child and Family SWs for the jobs available.

Allington · 13/07/2021 19:48

Why does this upset you so much?

ForeverSausages · 13/07/2021 19:52

I'm sorry to all those affected by what's happening in SA at the moment. The majority of my family are there, and it's really quite terrifying. Also, at the constant posts of this shining a light on the violence that people in SA suffer daily; I am fully aware. I saw violence every day growing up. Violence most people couldn't even comprehend. I'm not sure how it's a "pity party" me feeling afraid for my family still there. Have some tact.

captainjacksparrow · 13/07/2021 19:52

Firstly I manage a team of safeguarding social workers for an LA so that’s BOLLOCKS, jobs are demand currently with thousands of applications being made for limited frontline students for a start.

Secondly you are not South African, you are appropriating a culture and language that is not yours

Thirdly you are rude, disrespectful and I think a bit weird

HypocriteHunter · 13/07/2021 19:54

You can keep your wow.

I see fine. I do not speak from a position of privilege.

But if you expect me to wish harm on Anyone or anything just because it happens to some?

Never.

It shouldn’t happen to ANYONE. Not me or mine. Not you or yours. Not anyone.

Privilege to feel threatened only once in a while?

Shame. Shame on you.

Perching · 13/07/2021 19:57

So you are happy for your daughter to have a full scholarship on the SA taxpayers dime full well knowing that the minute she completes she will come to the UK bringing het valuable skills with her? Can you not see what a hypocrite you are????? People like you are part of the problem and time for you to sod off, honestly. You are as bad as the ‘all lives matter’ crowd. Seriously just fuck off now.

To others posters - the food q’s have started and the Clicks warehouse in Durban has been completely looted. Get your relatives to secure any urgent meds they need NOW.

Allington · 13/07/2021 19:58

workpermit.com/news/current-uk-critical-skills-shortage-list-20060620#:~:text=%20Current%20UK%20critical%20skills%20shortage%20list%20,%E2%80%A2%20Social%20Worker%2047%20%E2%80%A2%20Actuaries%20More%20

as far as I understand it, the social worker criteria is for child and family SW

Of course, by the time DD1 qualifies and gets relevant experience this may change.

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