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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:
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6
HypocriteHunter · 13/07/2021 19:58

And how dare you say that I don’t know or insinuate that my heart doesn’t break?

Take the shame.

Zee91 · 13/07/2021 19:58

As a South African these posts minimizing the plight of many currently is upsetting

Living in SA as a person of color I know what struggles people have been through and today it’s not just ‘white’ people being looted it’s people of color as well

My family have been affected and they are neither ‘white’ nor ‘privileged’

Allington · 13/07/2021 19:59

@Perching

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.

Her scholarship is from a private company, not the state. They recognise what she has overcome to get that far
mbosnz · 13/07/2021 20:00

Zee, how are your family? I'm so sorry this has happened to them. It's so hard, when you're so far away.

Allington · 13/07/2021 20:02

I doubt she will live in the UK long term. I doubt it will be 'home'. But I think she would contribute a lot (as a trans racial/ trans cultural young woman) and benefit a lot as well.

Why is this so threatening?

Zee91 · 13/07/2021 20:03

Immediate family are safe for now

Extended family have been affected - businesses looted / burnt, forced out of their homes and some in other areas don’t have enough supplies and stores are empty or they cannot get to them

captainjacksparrow · 13/07/2021 20:03

@Perching sorry to hear that update, how distressing.

@Zee91 I hope your family are safe and well

Trust me, we are not recruiting overseas for SW at the moment. It just isn’t needed currently.

sqirrelfriends · 13/07/2021 20:03

@Allington

I doubt she will live in the UK long term. I doubt it will be 'home'. But I think she would contribute a lot (as a trans racial/ trans cultural young woman) and benefit a lot as well.

Why is this so threatening?

It's not threatening.

Can you go away now?

Allington · 13/07/2021 20:04

@Perching

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.

Nope. Fully support BLM
mbosnz · 13/07/2021 20:05

Perching and Zee, no words. I hope you and your families manage to stay safe.

Allington · 13/07/2021 20:07

Why go away? Because I point out the level of violence the majority of South Africans live with daily?

It is unacceptable to me.

Perching · 13/07/2021 20:12

@MNHQ Allington is clearly trolling, can you please look at this??

Satears · 13/07/2021 20:13

Stories are emerging which may or may not be true. There are two huge issues about to happen, firstly stopping the food supply chain and the second is land grabbing. All orchestrated by The EFF (and possibly Zuma).

Crockof · 13/07/2021 20:14

[quote Perching]@MNHQ Allington is clearly trolling, can you please look at this??[/quote]
Agree, I've reported.

sqirrelfriends · 13/07/2021 20:16

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Perching · 13/07/2021 20:19

@Satears some of my sisters’ friends farm near Polgola they have reported farm attacks, but the local community has come to their defence.

This is different. It feels very orchestrated.
My mum says everything is whisper quiet in their neighbourhood and she is going to bed after not sleeping last night.

Cherry on the cake - there is actually a Covid related curfew in place!! None of these looters should be out on the streets to start with!

ForeverSausages · 13/07/2021 20:19

I've reported too. Upsetting reading their comments. Almost gleeful at what's happening as some sort of "payback". Really quite grim. I'm going to hide the thread now though. I hope everyone is okay as can be Flowers.

Perching · 13/07/2021 20:23

*Pongola

One day we will have an edit button!

LizzieW1969 · 13/07/2021 20:28

@ForeverSausages

I get that impression, too. She certainly doesn’t care that she’s causing considerable upset to other posters.

DentonsFringeArnottsWaistcoat · 13/07/2021 20:29

I hope MNHQ are sensible and delete the appalling derailing rather than the whole thread because more than poster clearly needs this support here. Flowers

Allington · 13/07/2021 20:34

Not trolling. Pointing out the difference between the level of concern when white South Africans are under attack and the level of concern for black South Africans.,

Allington · 13/07/2021 20:36

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Allington · 13/07/2021 20:38

The violence is appalling and unacceptable. But commonplace for everyone except certain privileged communities. That remains the case even if you succeed in deleting me.

CantStandMeow · 13/07/2021 20:43

@MNHQ surely threads like this demonstrate the need for a mute poster option? Since a block poster option is not deemed appropriate for the boards? The ability to mute someone determined to derail a supportive thread would be much more "in the spirit".

I hope everyone's families are safe Flowers

AdditionalCharacter · 13/07/2021 20:45

Thoughts for those whose families and friends are having to go through another night of fear and worry. I have friends scattered around Mpumalanga who are not quite near it, but can hear it at night. Hoping it comes to an end soon.