A South African woman living in Winnipeg is asking for prayers as her whole family back home faces terror in this time of chaos in Durban. 

Michelle Kaye was born and raised in South Africa before emigrating to Winnipeg in 2016. Her son and widowed mother live there still, along with the rest of her extended family. 

"I am six generations South African of East Indian descent. I am not a big fan of winter but I'd rather have the cold than the crime," says Kaye. 

On Sunday, July 11, ex-president, Jacob Zuma, was put in prison 'because of corruption.'

"It was supposed to be a peaceful protest for him from the Zulus. It went from that to basically now to a civil war. They have looted stores, burned them down, looted supply chains, they have terrorized the residents of Kwa-Zulu Natal. The police have run out of ammunition and civilians are defending themselves," says Kaye. 

She is grateful to be in constant contact with her family in South Africa, hearing firsthand what is happening. 

"People are running out of food, there is no water, no baby formula, as people were caught off guard with everything. Hospitals don't have food for their patients and there's no fuel because the fuel stations have been robbed."

According to Kaye, over 100 people have died from the riots and looting since Sunday. 

"It is a nightmare there. The government has not called it a civil war or a state of emergency, but unfortunately, it is. Basically, everything is burned down in my city."

She mentions that there are fathers and sons standing outside their homes to defend their houses, as well as the women and children inside from being assaulted.

"They are trying to push the minorities out of the communities. I have a son there and they are defending themselves. All of my family have packed bags so they can flee, including my nieces and nephews being taught how to flee if they have to in the middle of the night."

Kaye along with other South Africans in Canada are asking for people to pray over the chaos.

"We need prayer, we need prayer warriors because what we are fighting is bigger than what is happening. It's not just a physical warfare but a spiritual warfare. It's the power of darkness because the devil comes to steal, kill, and destroy, and that's what he's doing."

Kaye hopes that the government in South Africa will feel pressured to do something to help the civilians, and hopes other countries including Canada will move in this direction. She says there are currently 42,000 South Africans living in Canada.