Protest In The City Of Johannesburg

INTRODUCTION

Protest movements cut across barriers of age, gender, and race. It affects us all. It is an expression that demonstrates one's disapproval and unsatisfactory. Protests represent soft and silent voices that all along have been screaming and yelling in agony yet have not been recognized. In a city where no one knows their neighbor, multitudes gathered to exercise their right to protest and the right to freedom of speech governed by the U. S and Texas constitution. The aim not being to fight against flesh and blood (Ephesians6:12) but against what they disapprove of. Now petitions of complaints have failed the people and now the only thing left is to force the relevant people to lend them an ear. People who will never listen unless they are shaken with blows (Standa,1968: p. 117). Residents with big boards accompanied by songs marched into the streets to demonstrate and break the silence about the spreading virus of crime afflicting the city. There have been high rates of crime and no arrest has been made so far. Residents suspect that SAPS is working with criminals instead of fighting crime in their city. “There was hardly enough room to move, to breath, to think (Zimunya,1995: p. 118) in the city of Johannesburg. People are prepared to fight crime at all cost. “SAPS by fire by force “crime must fall in the community.

SURPRISENLY UNEXPECTED RESPONSE OF THE POLICE

Major issues in the anti-crime protest was that police officers are not doing their job to help fight crime. They are always busy, short of stuff and arrive late when criminal activities are reported. “Enough is enough”, the residents proclaimed. The city of Johannesburg came to a standstill after residents decided to shut down the area. Amazed by the response of police officers who came in numbers but are never there in times of need. It is very disturbing how the police are inactive, short of resources and insensitive when summoned due to criminal activities but surprisingly filled the streets to stop victims who are trying to help them do their job. They came in multitudes to suppress the mob like criminals. In a city where “you never see real darkness” (Mubonwa, p. 122) it became dark with clouds of smoke from teargases and gunshots. The police left the scene with trucks full of noble people, not the real culprits. It was surprising to see the police doing their job fiercely while the protest was about them dragging their feet when they are supposed to do their work. Why cannot they do the same to deal with real culprits in the city? A question that is difficult to obtain answers for.

THE DRAMA

It was not the end of it. Bad dreams of the city (White,1962: p46) of Johannesburg got intense. The city was between heaven and hell (Bestall, 2012). Protestors fuming with anger all over the streets. The city of sin was set on fire as Hawthorne’s grim advice that all towns should be purified by fire (Whites,1962: p. 62). Bus stations and post offices were torched. Tires burnt on the road. Residents not willing to stop until a solution is provided by the minister of the police. Degradations continued to rise out of control (Times live, 2018: p2). Protestors drove by the legacy of fear (Whites,1962: p. 200) that this tumor will spread to the coming generations and kill many. Main roads blocked so cars cannot pass. Rocks were thrown at cars trying to drive through. Rubbish bins used as fighting tools and drainage sewages busted. Destroying the land that sustains the city. The beauty of the city faded, what started as a peaceful demonstration turned into chaos in a blink of an eye. The law could not let protestors get away with this. Police came to "fight fire with fire" (Shakespear,1859) with guns and rubber bullets they came to join the gathering. It was a dog eat dog situation, the city turned into a battleground.

THE TRAGEDY

Post the shootout, the streets have turned into lakes of blood. Death has reared himself a throne in the city (White,1962: p. 56). The city is now serene but we can still hear corpse singing silently "senzeni na?" asking what have we done to die such a tragic death. About 10% of the people died and several were injured. Families have lost their loved ones, breadwinners and future changers. Nothing can mend the hearts of children who lost their parents, spouses who lost their partners, parents who lost their children. It is sad how a child became an orphan overnight. It was a great loss for the city not only to their families. They left a lifetime scar in the city. They died fighting against a cancerous tumor that was attacking their land.

Caption: Crime free society

After the shedding of blood and chaos. The government got involved by addressing the city to calm down the storm. Though the price paid was intense the citizens of Johannesburg were able to touch the hearts of relevant people. The minister of the police Bheki Cele vowed to fight crime with the people for the people. Starting with dismissing and arresting corrupt officers who have been committing crime. Police forums were created to work with people to bring down crime. Police raided the area each and every day. More police started to be visible in the field. This opened the eyes of the government.

As a result, an initiative was started all over South Africa to fight crime for the people with the people. The government promised to send soldiers to deal with crime in the area. Families who lost their loved ones were compensated. There was “order out of chaos” (Prigogine,1984). Though this did not bring back the lost souls, a crime free city rose in their name. May their soul rest in perfect peace, Comrades! Weeks after the report a huge number of arrest were made. Justice was served. Criminal crying in the hands of the law left a big smile in the face of the city. It is funny how big sharks in the world of crime who terrorized the city turned into cry-babies when arrested.