At 1:12 AM, the morning of June 30, my sister sent a message to our family group chat: ‘Lock your doors and bedrooms as well.’ Then, thirty-three minutes later, she sent another one: ‘I’m too scared. I just want to be prepared.’ Another sister of mine replied: ‘You’ll be fine.’ And then, after a pause: ‘Hopefully.’ I live in Germiston, east of Johannesburg. By the time the sun came up, demonstrators were already moving through the CBD, fewer than fifty at first, carrying sjamboks and clubs, sing