WATCH: Highway Mail joins patrollers for midnight watch
One of the patrollers described the situation currently faced by the country as a ‘two-legged pandemic with fast hands’.
I SIGNED up for the midnight to 4am shift at the intersection of Bosse Street and Jung Crescent in New Germany.
A team of 11 people held the point and, through organised neighborhood watch WhatsApp and Telegram groups, were in constant communication with other groups on the ground.
The team was made up of neighbours, many of whom were strangers, acting as the eyes and ears to ensure their areas and loved ones remain safe throughout the night.
With temperatures, if Google was to be trusted, sitting at a chilling 7 degrees celcius while a controlled fire was started and manned throughout the shift.
The camaraderie created through the evening, all focused on one goal: keep our families and friends safe.
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One of the patrollers asked the group gathered around the fire:
“Who would have thought that we would be sitting outside after midnight to keep our families safe?”
Another said that last year they never thought they would be a global pandemic and then went on to describe what the country is now facing as a ‘two-legged pandemic with fast hands.’
After spending hours in the frigid morning air, the team, which left as friends, all confirmed they would be ready to meet up for the next shift in 24 hours.
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