The sun had barely risen over the bustling streets of Cape Town, its early morning light casting a golden hue over the city. Thandiwe Dlamini stood at her window, sipping her tea as she watched the world come to life outside.

 From her flat in Khayelitsha, she could see the beginnings of a busy day, the street vendors setting up their stalls, children rushing to school, and workers like her heading to their jobs. 

But today, something felt different—there was a subtle tension in the air, like the calm before a storm. Thandiwe couldn’t place it, but she felt it in her bones.