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Looting diary

Updated: Aug 5, 2021

Our learners’ views about the lootings in Alex



HERE THE CRIES OF OUR MOTHER “ALEXANDRA”

For over 109 years I have cared for you,

I know I never had much but I surely gave you all I could offer

I gave you love a mother could offer,

I kept you warm throughout your coldest day

Yet, all this was never enough for you,

I am not ashamed of you, no...

I am disappointed in you

For I never taught you to be rebellious

And as a result, I am now know as the mother of all crimes,

It cuts me deep when I see you like this for I never taught you crime

I offered you education, talent and most of all I gave you creative minds

I had hoped all this will help build you a bright future...this was never enough was it?


Though... yes, I may disappointed in your barbaric behavior,

Looting from businesses that gave some of you jobs and all of you easy access to your daily needs, I still want to thank everyone who came together and cleaned me up. And now that I have almost nothing to offer, I am afraid of what you are about to encounter,


For I have seen poverty approaching along side was his brother crime,

And as a mother, the only thing I can do is to go down on my knees,

And cry unto the Lord in hope that I rise once again and provide for you like I always did

For no mother wishes to see her children suffer in her presence

Praise Mlalazi (pryz da poet) – 2020 matriculant


 


It all happened with just a bleak of an eye, and its was all over the news, as i opened the door and walked out of the gate, I discovered a new side of my community. They were shouting and singing sad songs, as I looked at their faces...all I could see was anger and frustration and for a moment I was confused....This war was not about our former President Jacob Zuma but its was more than that. Its like they were releasing what had been blocked or built up to them...the unjust nd unfair things....but its just that they got something to hide behind.....


My people were fooled by their own minds; not thinking about TOMORROW; not thinking about the FUTURE GENERATIONS...not thinking about US!!!...what are we learning or taking from them...Its sad.


At 12 midnight, I could hear gun shots, voices of women and children screaming, the shouting...Its was all like a nightmare and then in the morning, when I looked through the window...I saw people carrying fridges; televisions and wardrobes on their HEADS...that's when I realized that a person can do anything they put their minds to....Those heavy objects were carried by woman (as I said, "that are our strong woman. ") but if we have these fearless and powerful people...why is it not being used for a good course..." ITS ALL JUST A WASTE " I heard one women, with a child on her back and holding plastics on both her hands. Shouting to her neighbor that her kids were going to eat what they always saw on T.V and there is nothing that makes her happy then being able to provide the best for them. THAT TOUCHED ME. because everyone went there for different reasons.

This reminds me of a poem by ANONYMOUS describing the African flag, he/she said that the GREEN on the middle represents wealth and white covering it, on the left BLACK which is covered by YELLOW representing the ELECTRIC FENCE keeping all blacks from green. BUT what if we are the ELECTRIC FENCE keeping ourselves from reaching GREEN...if the Youth was part of the looting, then there is no hope for our country because our HOPE IS THE YOUTH.

Now its time each and every one of us to stop the CYCLE...The PATTERN. It's all in our hands but we've got to be careful. Because they can build and destroy .

It is so sad celebrating Mandela day, when our fathers, aunts and mothers are locked up and children are outside crying not knowing who and where to turn. I guess there is still a lot that needs to be done. ENOUGH OF TALKING AND MORE OF ACTION...BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE....S.A rise.....

Ntshalintshali Sthabile, gr 12



 

Builders or destroyers!!

How I wish they could see

Fools we are

Instead of developing, we are destroying


Our future is ruined

We live just for living

How I wish they could see

The pain and terror we go through


I don't fear for my life

But for those without sin

How far are you willing to go

To destroy the future for us all?


You started and now history has repeated itself

They fought for freedom, but today you destroy what they have fought for


Why did they fight if...

We can't appreciate what they did for us all

We have rendered ourselves unworthy of freedom


We have failed to lead

We have failed!!

Khanyisile Mahlangu, gr 9


 



Zwivhuya Muvhango - gr 21




 

It is indeed a sad in South Africa. People are spending their 67 minutes for Mandela cleaning malls. Hunger strikes, Covid strikes then death increases .We heard voices of people crying because of hunger and unemployment. Instead of using what we have, we went and burnt our own country . Today there are burning flames out there, thousands of dead bodies, thousands of prisoners and millions of Covid 19 infections. People don’t realize that they've cost not one, but many peoples lives Let's bow our heads ,pray and have a moment of silence for South Africa. Buhle Ncube, gr 10


 


“What South Africa has become in the past few days, it was so devastating that I saw the country being affected Economical.

People were protesting against Zama's arrest and this led people into looting which I believe it was just criminality at its best.

On Monday 12th of July, I and my family we were really scared because we have a spaza shop that we run for a living. Since the was looting taking place, we didn't know what will became of us if our shop gets destroyed also.


On that very same day, my dad clashed with a guy who stays with us, on the same street, and things got really bad. This guy ended up threatening us, "You won't sleep tonight, we will break down your shop ". This made me get scared of what will happened now, what if something happens to one of us or to the shop.

My dad decided to close down the shop, since also we had ran out of stock and where we normally shop it was closed due to the looting that was taking place. Even now our shop is closed. But after all that happened, we still have our shop and we are all safe nothing happened.


Sanele Skosana, gr 11 (Patrica & Ingrid mentee)


 

Being South African is something else, don't get me wrong I love my country but sometimes I wonder what the future holds for South Africa. Looking back at the past incidents of the country everything was taken and achieved by violence.

And I understand why, we were never heard

We shouted and no one was there to listen

We screamed and no one was there to save us

And we did the only thing we saw fit.


The looting might be said to have been because of the anger of the nation due to former president Zuma but that's not the case, truth be told this was just an excuse to torment lives and destroy shops.


I cannot say a certain tribe did this because as events unfold all tribes where in it, of course not all South Africans but it's as they say one rotten potato makes all potatoes look rotten

And all we could was hold on, wonder when it was to end, wonder if what is to become of the country because lives shattered, some taken. Police officers are dead, family structures destroyed, tears shed and a nation defeated How is it like to grow up in Alex "

Oratile Jonas- gr 11

 

During this looting, I experienced things I should have not. We have a Somalian shop near our house, and it was looted. Lucky, no one got harmed. We couldn't sleep due to gun shots and all the strikes that were happening during the night. I and my family are even more scared because we live near the street. What was more embarrassing is that a lady in our yard works at Freedom shop in Pan Africa mall: her mother and brother did not think even twice before looting the Freedom shop. It was more like they enjoy their child's unemployment.

Fortunate Mkhansi, gr 11

 


"For a moment , I saw the future of our nation vanishing. I thought everyone's journey has come to an end . The sky to the ground and the ground to the sky .


Women, Men, children , everyone was in a hurry. All I could see was dust . For the very first time I felt like all of those people were younger than me .


Run, run , fast , fast ! We will destroy everything ! That's all I could hear. People forgot about their dreams. Their minds were tamed for that moment . I could see the flag of South Africa burning in my mind . The green grass turned to red . The blood of an innocent police man got shed .But what could I have done ? Nothing I am just a little girl.


Our loved ones are now behind bars. All they have now is regret . The little ones wake up with their pillows drowning of their tears. Mama ! Mama !Papa! Papa! Where are you? Mama and papa are not home dear 😔.


People are starving . Some are homeless . people got fooled by their own minds .

They all go to one place to get their need . But what could I have done? Nothing I am just a little girl.


South Africa is not like China , America or any of those rich countries. South Africa has young bright minds. Us ! we can change our country and make it a combination of all of those rich countries.


Let us all practice Ubuntu and South Africa will be a better place . Looting? No it is not a solution but a problem that needs a solutions.

Pfanelo Mudau, gr 12


 

𝗟𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗼𝗲𝘁𝗿𝘆✍️

𝑭𝑬𝑨𝑹〖Fᵃˡˢᵉ Eᵛⁱᵈᵉⁿᶜᵉ Aᵖᵖᵉᵃʳⁱⁿᵍ Rᵉᵃˡ〗

𝑊ℎ𝑎𝑡 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑝𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒, 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑢𝑛𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟 ℎ𝑖𝑔ℎ 𝑓𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜𝑜𝑙.

𝑇𝑜𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑤 𝑦𝑜𝑢'𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒 𝑙𝑒𝑓𝑡 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑛𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔!

𝑳𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝒏𝒆𝒘𝒃𝒐𝒓𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝐴𝑙𝑙, 𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝐹𝑎𝑙𝑙.

𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒚 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝐷𝑢𝑠𝑡,

𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝑇𝑟𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝒊𝒏 𝒖𝒔.

𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒊𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝐴𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑟,

𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒐𝒕 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝐷𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑟.


𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒃𝒆𝒅 𝑃𝑎𝑖𝑛,

𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝑉𝑎𝑖𝑛.

𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝐷𝑖𝑒𝑑,

𝑩𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝐿𝑖𝑒𝑑 𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖.


𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒘𝒔 𝒉𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝑆𝑡𝑢𝑝𝑖𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑦

𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝑇𝑢𝑟𝑏𝑖𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑦 .

𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝐴𝑙𝑙

𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝐹𝑎𝑙𝑙.


𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝑊𝑒𝑙𝑙,

𝑼𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒍 𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒕 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒂 𝐶𝑒𝑙𝑙, 𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝.


𝑨𝒔 𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒅

𝒀'𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒘𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝐴𝑛𝑔𝑟𝑦,

𝑨𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈

𝒀'𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒍𝒆𝒇𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝐻𝑢𝑛𝑔𝑟𝑦.


𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻,

𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗹𝗮𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲,

𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀.

Tsholifelo Noge, gr 21 ( and her twin sister Tshegofatso)


 

Because of the careless decisions that people took.

Which was to loot, kill, destroy and bring tears to the other families. And one thing about bringing tears in someone's face is that you don't bring tears to him or her only but to the rest of his or her family as well.

What about those children who knew that their parents went to work and they were taking time to come back home?

While the deepest truth was known by God and those who witnessed their killing.

Is their future guaranteed in this country? The very same country that took their parents from them? I don't think so.

Looting brought distractions on attendance of schools. But let us not allow that to be an excuse for not doing our best and succeeding.

As excellence is our middle name as the youth of South Africa.

Let us not allow any form of looting ever in South Africa.

Mahlatse Lamola, gr 12