The Phoenix massacre has resurfaced in the minds of many South Africans after residents of the Durban suburb marched to the police station to hand over a memorandum of demands.
Phoenix massacre: What do the accused families want?
As reported by The Phoenix Tabloid, families of the suspects arrested for various crimes that took place during July’s fiery ‘SA shutdown‘ riots, assisted by the African Democratic Change (ADeC) political party, handed over a list of demands to station commander Brigadier Zondi, on Wednesday.
The demonstrators held placards that read, “Free Phoenix-Accused Now”, “Justice For All”, and one poster even cheered the mass-murder suspects as “Phoenix Heroes”.
According to the cited publication, the memorandum calls for the immediate release of every suspect arrested for crimes linked to July’s massacre, where at least 36 protesters were killed.
In early August, Police Minister Bheki Cele had confirmed that of the 36 victims, 30 were gunned down, two were charred to death, another victim was fatally stabbed and one other passed away after sustaining trauma injuries from being mowed by a vehicle.
In the eyes of the Phoenix families, the alleged perpetrators of these vicious and inhumane crimes were only doing their best to protect the community.
The mass investigation, headed by a task team made up of 31 detectives from precincts outside of Phoenix, is still underway with piles of evidence and paperwork to work through.
This, we understand, is the chief reason behind delays in court procedures in the respective cases.
Here’s how social media reacted
News of Wednesday’s march sparked outrage as soon as images of the families surfaced on social media. Here are some of the reactions we picked out:
They are calling for the release of their heroes who massacred innocent black people. #PhoenixMassacre pic.twitter.com/i5DBZ6F1F0
— Sam Khanyile (@Gjing_superman) September 29, 2021
Never forget #phoenixmassacre "They are doing right" ♂️ pic.twitter.com/lLLabtXCVW
— Robz (@Rofhiwa_Robz) September 29, 2021
If blood is thicker than water was a person and a party these defenders of #PhoenixMassacre accused would be. Why would a self respecting African vote for this? pic.twitter.com/TvCM0fOh1f
— Nkosentsha Shezi (@NShezi) September 29, 2021
It started with killing of innocent black people, and the government blue ticking the barbaric acts of Indians amid social and media pressure. Its now turned into heroism!! indeed being black in this country is being nothing #PhoenixMassacre
— #PleaseCallMe Movement (@NelsonQ_Tau) September 30, 2021