My heart is bleeding for my country tonight

[TrixieLou]

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.

@TrixieLou I'm so so sorry to hear what your family are going through. I've said a prayer tonight for your family's safety and wellbeing

@Allington

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

Lay off the posters who are worried and upset. Black women and children are always the ones who suffer most in South Africa. I lived in SA for many years and I know about the vile things that happen to women and children every day there. I have wept many times and anyone with a heart would weep. This violence is destroying people’s lives , their livelihoods and it’s the fault of the terrible governments over the years, both white and black. All the people of South Africa deserve better than the ANC or the EFF with their ridiculous promises , their greed , their inability to govern their beautiful country. That’s the truth that’s so hard to bear and it’s heartbreaking

@Allington

It's not OK for anyone to be threatened, raped or murdered. But it only makes the news when it is white South Africans.

It is a daily occurrence for many black South Africans, so doesn't make the news

You “ forgot “ to mention the farmers and their whole families who are raped and murdered or was that because they are generally white?

Those murders don’t make the papers either because it happens so often.

@captainjacksparrow

Fairly certain no one wants to see SA destroyed, be they white or black...

It’s possible to have compassion for multiple people at the same time.

Well said

Allington what are the solutions?

@Allington

Zuma's is corrupt, as far as I can see.

However, he also risked his life by opposing apartheid, which was way more corrupt in prioritising not only white companies but Afrikaner companies.

So, for many people the one outweighs the other.

You know he is corrupt, he is a thief and a liar off the scale. Cry the beloved country indeed!

@Rhannion

Those murders don’t make the papers either because it happens so often.

Really?

Goodness you’re reading very different media to me. I’ve ready many many stories about attacks on white farmers.

I’m very surprised indeed to hear you’ve never seen this in a mainstream media source.

I am so sad for all of you who have loved ones in those areas, it must be such a worrying time. Whatever the reasons for the trouble the individuals and family members haven’t caused it so other posters on here need to post with compassion and respect.

My friend has lived here for 15 years and has family living there and all the residents in their area received a voicemail recording today telling them that they are next and will all be murdered soon. We listened to it and it is terrifying.

Her brother has been out working with others to set up road blocks and protect their families.

Sending love to all of you who have loved ones living there.

MissTrip82 I was referring to the UK papers not the ones in SA and the omission by a previous poster.

Praying for your family and friends tonight. Please bring them peace and safety soon xxx

@Allington are you still going to sit on your white saviour high horse and tell us all that this is no worse than what the general population face on a day to day basis?

TrixieLou, despite having numerous posts deleted and being asked repeatedly not to derail your thread, take it over and use it for a political lecture Allington is not listening, will not listen, nor take any notice whatsoever, they are determined to make this thread all about them and their views which tells you everything you need to know about their character.

I am sorry you are having to put up with this on your thread TrixieLou I find it galling that MNHQ have allowed this one poster to persistently do this especially in light of what you and your family are going through and the reason you started this thread.

Agree, you have been in my mind all day, what I'm hearing from family is heartbreaking.

TrixieLou The attachments in your last post are heartbreaking. My heart goes out to all who are affected.

[quote TrixieLou]@Allington are you still going to sit on your white saviour high horse and tell us all that this is no worse than what the general population face on a day to day basis?[/quote]
That video is heartbreaking Trixie.

The one woman had a broken ankle too.

Today has been tough. Very tough. Our pharmacies have been looted and covid vaccines destroyed. It's taken us so long to get our programme up and running.

We can't get into the shops that are open without waiting for hours to get in. Each person is limited to 15 items when you do.

I'm not sure if I am allowed to put this on as its really grim, so admins please delete it if necessary, but it shows how bad it is there at the moment:

www.reddit.com/r/PublicFreakout/comments/ojpqq2/durban_south_africa_looter_brutality_beaten_and/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share

@Chickenkatsu that is truly horrendous. When is this going to end 😭

I saw the footage this morning of the baby being thrown to the crowd by her mother, i actually cried. What an awful decision to have to make, I'm so glad the mother was rescued and they were reunited.

How are your parents doing @TrixieLou

Thanks for bringing this issue to everyone’s attention @TrixieLou

@isthismylifenow That is awful. I’m so sorry. Have you got any food at all?

@AdditionalCharacter They are ok! My dad FaceTimed me earlier while they were driving through one of the streets that was very badly hit. We were both so emotional because the entire community had come out and was cleaning up the mess. The people of KZN have made very proud to be South African today. People of all ages and every race were out there today picking up the pieces. It’s not over yet and we still have a very long way to go but clearly there is still hope.

@Scatterlingsofafrica I hope you and your loved ones are ok 💐

[quote TrixieLou]@isthismylifenow That is awful. I’m so sorry. Have you got any food at all?

@AdditionalCharacter They are ok! My dad FaceTimed me earlier while they were driving through one of the streets that was very badly hit. We were both so emotional because the entire community had come out and was cleaning up the mess. The people of KZN have made very proud to be South African today. People of all ages and every race were out there today picking up the pieces. It’s not over yet and we still have a very long way to go but clearly there is still hope.

@Scatterlingsofafrica I hope you and your loved ones are ok 💐[/quote]
Thanks TrixieLou, I am in Gauteng so also affected but the rioting isn't as bad here. But, everything is closed as a precaution as Alex had been bad with looting etc and another area not far from me. As everything is closed we are struggling to get basics, as I'm sure your family is. I have spent a very stressful day trying to get my dd's chronic medication, and food basics.

Did you see the fbook post up thread, it was just a summary. If you follow I Know A Guy, go have a look at the full posts. People are rallying together and I read that post in tears.

The taxi association have now taken a stand, the police and sandf can't cope. You know how volatile taxi association can be at times, but they surrounded Mopanye Mall in Soweto and many other places to keep the looters out. They are going door to door and collecting back looted items, not sure yet where they are returning them to. These are the same groups that were not so long ago at war with each other, now coming together.

But yes, I felt it in your post, people are sticking together now in the aftermath.

Emotions are very very high. We aren't there yet, but we just hope and pray we are able to come back from this.

Thoughts are with all your family in KZN as much as with mine.

Been checking in, following what ridiculously little there is in the news, and hoping and praying for ALL South Africans affected, but especially of you and yours.

Fantastic to have good news Trixielou.