CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA ? AUGUST 01: Leader of GOOD party Patricia de Lille during the Moms Move for Justice march from the Castle to Parliament on August 01, 2019 in Cape Town, South Africa. For the fourth year, Moms Move for Justice, supported by community members, religious leaders and NGOs, march in commemoration of their slain children, who were victims of crime and gang violence in Cape Town. (Photo by Gallo Images/Brenton Geach)
Shutdown SA: Why SAns are threatening to shut down the country [video]
A call has been made to gather the numbers for an impending shut down of South Africa.
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA ? AUGUST 01: Leader of GOOD party Patricia de Lille during the Moms Move for Justice march from the Castle to Parliament on August 01, 2019 in Cape Town, South Africa. For the fourth year, Moms Move for Justice, supported by community members, religious leaders and NGOs, march in commemoration of their slain children, who were victims of crime and gang violence in Cape Town. (Photo by Gallo Images/Brenton Geach)
It has been a volatile start to the Spring season in the country. Recent events have spurred the country’s online community to form a new movement called Shutdown SA.
Why are people calling for a Shutdown SA?
The first week of September kicked off on a horrible note. On Monday, news broke out of the kidnapping of a six-year-old, at the same time our worst fears were confirmed about the missing UCT student, Uyinene Mrwetyana.
Feeling as if the government has failed them, scores of South Africa’s online community banded together to form a movement whose call is to shutdown SA.
So, we did a little digging and found that this is why people are calling for a stand against a country that apparently does not serve and protect them.
The recent attacks on women
In the past 24 hours, we learned that Amy-Lee de Jager, a six-year-old pupil from Kollege Park Primary School was kidnapped in front of her school by four armed men. Fortunately, it was revealed, on Tuesday, that she had been returned safely to her family. The investigation into her kidnapping is still being investigated.
https://t.co/YQcxTgDnjt It’s just after 03h00 on Tuesday morning with thousands of South Africans and people around the world waiting to hear about our beloved Amy-lee de Jager who was https://t.co/Bxyn5PCymv pic.twitter.com/gaHAn8jaDK
— Search SA (@Search_SA) September 3, 2019
We also learned, on Monday, that the suspect that was held for the disappearance of Mrwetyana, a first-year film student at UCT, was charged with murder and rape, suggesting that she was no longer alive, as we had all hoped.
Let’s wear black tomorrow in remembrance of girls and women who have been brutally violated and killed by men.
— Patricia de Lille (@PatriciaDeLille) September 2, 2019
We pray for the safe return of Mikayla Pieters and Amy-Lee De Jager. #RIP all you fallen angels
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While the suspect has yet to submit a plea on all charges at the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court — meaning that he can not be identified as yet — details of his identity, as well as Mrwetyana’s alleged final moments — were all leaked on social media.
The issue of foreign nationals in South Africa
The other issue at hand is the escalating violence that is taking place in Gauteng. Since violence broke out in Pretoria CBD last week, attacks on foreign-owned shops have spread throughout the province.
On Monday, videos and images showing the scourge of looting and the torching of foreign-owned shops that is taking place in areas like Tembisa, Turrfontein, Hatfield and other parts of Gauteng, sent shockwaves that reverberated across the country.
This has caused divisions between locals and foreign nationals who have vowed to fight back. So far, there has been one shooting incident involving Hillbrow residents that defended themselves against looters.
Shutdown SA: What will happen next?
As all of this continues, South Africans have criticised the government for being slow in reacting to the violence that has gripped the nation in fear.
Women are afraid and feel unprotected and foreign nationals are losing their assets at the hands of disgruntled locals who want them out of the country.
While calls for a nationwide shutdown have yet to be confirmed, a petition has been doing the rounds calling for government to recognise the need for the death penalty to be passed into law.
So far, the petition has received more than 300 000 signatures of its 500 000 target.
