Chapters (67)
Cape Town’s very own Banksy chose to bring attention to a missing girl last night. Natasha Lewis was taken from outside her home six months ago and is still missing. Her family became frustrated by the lack of progress on the case and took it upon themselves to put up missing posters, but didn’t get any new leads. They said that since this morning, the help line has been ringing nonstop with people offering to assist in the search, and a few people have even provided new leads for the police to follow. Her parents are grateful to the artist who chose to highlight their daughter’s plight, but this time the city of Cape Town is hitting back. A police spokesperson said that they would make it their priority to find whoever did this, because this time the artwork was done on a national heritage site, the Iziko South African Museum. They have also said they will be painting over the mural even though various activist groups, including Women’s Voices, a group dedicated to bringing attention to gender-based violence, have said that they will do whatever it takes to stop them. Their leader, Lodi Mbeki, said that they applaud whoever the artist was. And a few kilometers away in Clifton, a huge billboard for Palm Luxury Realty was also painted over. The billboard caused some controversy when it was put up on the picturesque street, blocking the view. Residents even signed a petition to have it removed. Could Cape Town’s Banksy be concurring? The cost to advertise on the billboard is fifty thousand rand, and the latest advertiser, Barbara Palmer, can’t be happy . . .
There was more, but I stopped. I was officially in serious trouble. I carried on flicking through social media—Natasha’s and Rose’s faces dominated, along with small pictures of my mother’s billboard here and there.
My phone beeped and I looked down at it.
VICKI: Seems like Cape Town’s Banksy struck twice last night. Are you okay?
LORI: Shit. I don’t know. My mom has called the cops. They’re here at the house and apparently I painted a heritage site!!!!
VICKI: I think you should probably hang up your spray paints for a little while until this blows over
LORI: I will! I will!
VICKI: I had a cancellation tomorrow at two, do you want to take it?
LORI: Okay. See you then
VICKI: Take care of yourself. And for what it’s worth . . . I think it’s bloody cool what you’re doing
I sat in my room for a while, and stared out my window at the sea. I felt very out of my depths here; I’d never done anything like this before. I’d always been a good girl. Never a rebel. And now look at me, literally wanted by the police.