My parents came from Mozambique but I was born here in South Africa. I have spent my entire life here and all my friends are from here. I lost my mother in June 2004 and my father in October the same year. They left me a stand in Makawuso and I was sustaining myself from the money tenants paid. I was too young to look for employment then but at least with the shacks I could survive. I tried to send myself to school for about one year but then I dropped out. I love music and singing hip-hop. I am looking forward to getting a sponsor so that I may create my own band and succeed in my dream.

I met this white guy who was into assisting disadvantaged kids and he hired my friend and me to assist him. I had hoped that the little money that I used to get from this white guy's project would at least give me an opportunity to upgrade my studies, but because he abandoned it due to the attacks I am now doomed.

When all this violence took place I was at work, where I repair radios and TVs. I knocked off around 8 pm. When I got home my aunt asked me to go to her place to check the situation as she had been chased away in the afternoon. I found that they had not yet broken down the gate and doors and it was still secured.

I returned to my place and found it in a chaotic state, as people were being attacked and trying to flee. It was dark. While I stood with friends outside my house, a group of about 12 youths came armed with knives, iron bars, hammers, spears and all sorts of weapons. They said, ‘We want this guy who fixes radios and TVs’ and they meant myself. I said, ‘I don't know this guy you are talking about.’ They found my shack locked and went their way. But then this other woman they met advised them that the person they were looking for was the one they had just left alone.