How did we go from being a united country standing together trying to fight an unseen enemy, to a country divided and running amok in the streets, looting malls and businesses?
I find it strange that people saw the need to start looting after President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday relaxed Level 4 lockdown restrictions.
It seemed like he had finally realised that he is killing off both the live entertainment industry and hospitality sector.
In fact, he admitted and accepted his mistake and once again gave the arts world hope that they will survive.
After his address, I was quite pleased that finally he and his cabinet realised that it’s not healthy for them to keep focusing on closing down controlled gatherings and causing us to lose money, making it hard for us to sustain our families.
So why this uprising and looting after his address?
It baffles me to a point where I can’t help but focus on what is really happening in the country with regards to politics.
For me, this whole looting spree has got nothing to do with the pandemic and I feel like it’s being orchestrated by people who have political agendas.
It’s a political mind game being played using the poorest of the poor to do the dirty work.
The looters are running around without masks by the thousand, spreading mayhem and causing businesses to shut down, not caring about the negative long-term impact these actions will have on us all.
Clearly the instigators have no respect for the pandemic or police and even the looters seem to be above the law.
At times they are only removed from stores and malls and can be seen running away with whatever they managed to grab.
It feels as if the pandemic and its impact is no longer important.
In the end, Mr Ramaphosa might not be left with any other choice but to move us back to Level 5 and declare a state of emergency.
Do these hooligans have no thoughts for us who follow the rules and sacrifice every day so that this pandemic can come to an end?
When these protesters are asked why they are looting, some say it’s because of former president Jacob Zuma being jailed, while others say it’s because they are suffering because of the pandemic.
But hey, we are all making sacrifices out here. You don’t see us looting.
The arts community has been damaged, theatres have been closed but none of us are running around Cape Town looting businesses.
We take the punches and we innovate and create other ways to survive.
If this looting continues the business owners might choose to close down permanently and then the unemployment rate will go up again, and then who will suffer?
You might have stolen a short supply of food for now but when it’s up, you will no longer have access to more of it and then some people will expect us to care about them again.
I am today still a proud Capetonian, proud that my city has remained calm and have not engaged in the looting mayhem.
Proud that we are patient enough with the president and the virus and that we support each other by doing the right thing.
With that said, let’s remain calm and keep our city loot-free and support the local arts community by going to their shows during this tough period.
dailyvoice@inl.co.za