Masiphumulele is burning – that’s the message I got this morning. Messages of rioting, tyres on fire and closed roads streamed onto my cell phone screen. 
Various reasons were given. From what I worked out, it was because those arrested for killing the criminals were not being let out of jail. My friends phoned their home helpers and got messages of fear. They were being told to get out of their homes to march enmass to the courts. But you couldn’t get out of Masi.
Police helicopters circled overhead. Dozens of emergency and police vehicles streamed to the scene. With Fish Hoek’s law serves stretched to the limit, more back up and reinforcements were called in from over the mountain.
Very few people could get out of Masiphumulele and no one could drive past. It was strangely quiet on our streets. Instead of the ‘pickers’ scratching through the Tuesday rubbish bins, the roads were quiet. Instead of the rush and energy of endless taxis rushing up and down Kommetjie Road, there was only the slow hum of regular cars.
I went to Fish Hoek for breakfast. “Short-staffed” was the by-word of the day. The workers couldn’t get through to their jobs. They were stuck at home in a volatile situation. Children not able to get to school. Workers not able to work. News of a march to the Ocean View Police station.
Sadly, as I’m writing this there are still emergency vehicles driving to the scene and social media messages saying fires are again being lit in the community. A riot squad vehicle has just gone past along with a police car and ambulance.
Photo from Philippa Darkins Reay Facebook
There was some talk a number of weeks ago that a police station would be opened in Masi itself. Something has to be done to control crime in the community.
2 Chronicles 15:5
“In those times there was no peace to him who went out or to him who came in, for many disturbances afflicted all the inhabitants of the lands.”
Nothing has changed.
The situation is volatile. Pray for the people of Masi and for the police to gain some semblance of control.
God bless.
In His Grip,
Helga