The protest turned looting was the greatest orchestrated heist in human history, I am sure! It came like a tornado and left devastation and destruction in its wake. I chatted to Lee Anderson-Brooks, A nurse on the go and Manager at Hamilton House in the Upper Highway area. This is her story.

Protest Impact on communities

Lee had to go to many different small shops to get all the ingredients for her clients at the care home. They were all stressed out of their minds, so she had to calm them down and explain what had happened. Lee chatted to them, explaining that they had to ration and that they might not have biscuits or meals three times a day. She realised her most important role was to provide food and safety for the home. She started a Whatsapp group to communicate with the families and reassure them.

No staff were available to help. There was only one night nurse, who worked 4 days straight and was hurt, disappointed and frustrated, as she could not get home to check on her own family as it was not safe to do so. There were no taxis available, making it difficult to get to and from work.

She managed to ask a shop owner if she could get supplies for Hamilton House even though he had closed his shop, he didn’t hesitate to say yes. He opened up, at great risk to himself, so that she could get essential items. She got on all the community Whatsapp groups and networked like she had never done before but networked for food supplies and the lives of the elderly in her care. In all the rushing around, she forgot about herself and her family.

She had to source medication for her patients and was tanked out from all the driving and picking up and dropping off but thankfully, being in uniform, Lee was allowed to get fuel as an essential worker.

Lessons that were learned

By Wednesday, on very little sleep. Lee said that while we are all panicking and fearful, we also have all come together to support one another when we are in need. The elderly were fearful about not getting any food. They are not exposed to the same social media as us so they are relying on news and reports of others. These folks were more resilient than she realised because many of them had been through the aftermath of the 2nd world war so they knew and understood rationing and how to survive.

Lee said she was very proud of the elderly and how they rallied together to discuss how they would ration. They are between the ages of 81 and 97 and showed incredible strength in adversity.

She had spent so much to source food. Due to the food shortages of the protest, prices were so high for food. She had to buy meds with her credit card for her patients because they could not stand in the long queues waiting. She is now in credit card debt but asked if she would do it again, she said, without a doubt.

Is she tired? Yes, she is exhausted.
Is she proud to be a South African? Yes, Everyone, young, old, black and white, came together to help each other.
Does she like being a nurse on the go? Yes, she wouldn’t change a thing. She loves helping people, and she feels blessed to be able to do it.

A Message from Lee Anderson

Lee wanted to say, “Thank you to all the people of Upper highway, who stood guard to protect our lives and our homes during the protest, those who are tired, we salute you for all you have done. To the business owners who were kind enough to help. To all the people who have prayed. To all who have cleaned up. We salute you!”