GUNSHOTS, loud screams, communities mobilising, telling the men in my home goodbye and not knowing if they will return as they scurry off to protect entrances to our area, fast became a norm for me this week.

My name is Candyce Krishna. I am a journalist for Northglen News, and this is my story.

Since Monday, my family and I have been on high alert as unrest and riots are ongoing in Phoenix.

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I have not had a decent night’s sleep for days.

Most nights I am kept awake by gunshots, and when I finally dose off for a few minutes, I am awakened by them.

Even now as I type this, I still hear gunshots in the distance.

I honestly thought that living through a global pandemic would be the most stressful era I would ever had to encounter in my lifetime, but boy was I wrong.

Since Monday night I found myself petrified for my life.

The gunshots and cries for help were like a scene from an action movie that was on repeat, and as soon as I think, oh I am sure things will be better today, I am proven wrong and the unrest starts again.

This week I have felt a million emotions – but mainly fear, anxiety and anger, sadness, heartbreak, as I had no idea who those bullets are being fired at, but the ramifications are clear; that people would lose loved ones.

Even the army presence here has not calmed my nerves. In between all of this, I still have a job to do and that is to bring you, the readers and advertisers of Northglen News, the news.

To say it’s been difficult leaving the area to get to the Durban North, is an understatement. Fortunately, whoever I explained this to understood, and had the biggest hearts to send me photos and videos so that this journalist could still do her job.

ALSO READ: Kenville businesses targeted, looted in protests

Your messages of “stay safe, be careful” mean more to me than you’ll ever know.

I have tried my utmost best to not focus on the stories of looting and unrest and to find the good news stories because I felt you needed some positivity during the chaos, but the truth be told, I needed it too.

But enough about me. Your efforts in strategising and mobilising residents have been formidable.

From the individuals who have rallied to protect, the people who have kept these individuals nourished, the security companies and CPFs who have gone above and beyond, the person who offered coffee to shoppers as they queued, the home recipe sharers, the bread bakers and the clean-up crews – well done. I see you.

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