Hunger Strike Day 71: Arrest delayed, health tumbles
IPID Acting Director Victor Senna failed to respond to my request for assistance and that I be handed over to decent cops. But having said I’d be arrested on the 23rd of July 2019, which was yesterday, I presented myself to another department who did not arrest me but instead asked for advice from Pretoria. I’ve been told to wait several days. The other policemen who want to arrest me will be greatly disappointed. There’s no sorry in me but I was disappointed in a different way.
MY PLAN WAS TO DETERIORATE
I’d planned this day 4 weeks ago. Except for one small walk outside per week, I spent the past month in bed to get to this moment. It’s Day 71 of my hunger strike. My health took a turn for the worse yesterday.
Initially, the weight I’d gained in Namibia was a big help. Fruit juice and soya milk never stopped me getting thinner but it kept me alive longer than I thought possible. I expected to last 30-45 days but this is ridiculous. So for 10 days I never had fruit juice, and no soya milk in my tea for 4 days. The taste of rooibos sickens me now.
Besides money running dry, I needed to be weak when I handed myself in. I have to try force my demands and be hospitalised and tracked. I may not have gotten arrested but I got weak.
NIGHTMARE HEALTH DAY
Yesterday was nightmare.
I awoke at 1am for a 24hr day. Although I walked less than a kilometre after a taxi ride, I was falling apart. So I stopped at a mall and had a a chicory based coffee (i.e. not strong) and an apple juice. It was an acidic shock to my system. Within an hour, I got bad cramps and diarrhea. I never stopped feeling awful that day.
My hearing dropped in my ears, the right-hand side one the bigger problem (like when you come out of a plane that landed at a much lower altitude). I’ve been having problems with my eyes, blurry, especially, again, the right side. I’m forced to reduce time on my laptop. That worsened. And there’s a frustrating pain where my appendix is but it’s probably something else. My lips are sore, as if I were in a cold, dry place… except I’m in Durban which has had the warmest Winter I remember.
I’ve still got belly fat but my arms and legs have lost dramatically. My arms are losing muscle too.
So I got myself carrot juice and soya milk to hopefully get my body used to it again. I must last until my next meeting with the police. That has to happen soon as my money will be finished and I will need medical care not long after that.
I thought my body would demand long sleep but when I awoke this morning I’d only had 5 hours worth. My eyesight and ears still troublesome but better than yesterday. My tummy also a but better. So I’m hopeful I’ll stabilise. I’ll have half a litre carrot juice and half a litre soya milk per day. I’ll buy tea, and Lip Ice this morning. And maybe I’ll have something with vitamin C. But money is a big problem making juice limited . My bank account fees of R400 will put me in red at month end.
PLEASE HELP
Please help me by depositing R20 or R50 with the reference ‘hunger juice’. I checked with an expert yesterday and was told that cannot be considered aiding and abetting.
- Michael Hampton
- First National Bank (FNB)
- Cheque Account
- 62232419243
As I thought I was getting arrested, I gave my clothes. camera and portable speaker to someone to keep. Can’t get it back now. Have only one set of clothes and a jersey.
I’VE RISKED MY FREEDOM FOR THE PUBLIC INTEREST
I could’ve been silent. I was offered a roof and food. I would have been extremely poor but had the luxury of writing non-political books and watching movies for several years. I chose not to.
I was offered to stay on a farm in the bush where no one would find me. I chose not to.
I was offered a place to sleep in a township. I chose not to.
I chose not to because that would’ve been selfishness and cowardice. I’m unwilling for my fellow citizens to be trampled by the greedy few on their way to our stolen future. My goal is to save Knysna and improve the Western Cape by getting rid of its corrupt leadership. I’ve given up 9 years of my life for that lofty goal.
Some may call me a fool but it is what it is now. I have no options.
The only way we stop South Africa’s slide is if more of us stand up. If you don’t have money to emigrate, it should be your only choice.
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