It began with a moment of raw, unfiltered frustration—the kind that millions of South Africans feel daily but rarely voice so powerfully. Gomolemo Bodiba, an activist, content creator, and law student known affectionately as “Lemo” within the movement, sat down and recorded a video that would change everything.
The Spark That Ignited a Nation
Lemo’s video calling for a class action lawsuit gave voice to the collective anguish of a generation let down by systemic failures: crumbling public services, rampant corruption, staggering unemployment, and economic exclusion. But she didn’t just articulate the problem—she proposed a bold solution. Lemo made a public call for South Africa’s youth to unite and file a class-action lawsuit against the government, demanding accountability for decades of broken promises.
“What started as a question—’Who would we even sue?’—became the catalyst for something much bigger than I imagined,” Lemo now reflects.
The WhatsApp Group That Became a Movement!
On the day Lemo posted the video, she also created a WhatsApp group, inviting those who resonated with her message to join the conversation. What happened next was extraordinary.
Within 24 hours, the group mushroomed to over 1,000 members—forcing its conversion to a WhatsApp Community to accommodate the overwhelming response. The energy was electric! The conversations? passionate! For the first time, many participants felt they had found others who shared their frustrations and desire for meaningful action.
It was from these digital conversations that the first concrete mandate emerged: not just a lawsuit, but a nationwide peaceful protest. The people had spoken, and ReclaimSA born.
Building a Movement at Lightning Speed
The bulk of the original WhatsApp group is now part of the ReclaimSA #Groundswell Team! The Groundswell team is responsible for all the #ReclaimSA digital assets! Everything that you see (from the logo, to official documents, to website and digital content), has been produced by volunteers in the #ReclaimSA movement with no funding, sheer self-determination and a desire for a better South Africa!
This movement only started a few days ago. What has unfolded over the past five days represents one of the most rapid civic mobilisations in South Africa’s recent history:
- Governance Structure Established: A leadership team was formed to handle legal and accounting matters, with Gomolemo Bodiba appointed as ReclaimSA President.
- Provincial Organising Launched: Nine provincial teams were established to coordinate regional actions, recognising that while the problems are national, solutions often need local context.
- Communication Channels Created: The movement now boasts an official website, Instagram presence, Facebook page, and X (Twitter) account and TickTock page—all created and managed by volunteer professionals.
- Working Systems Implemented: Over 500 dedicated members have established collaborative systems for decision-making, content creation and sharing, and event planning.
More Than Protest: A Platform for Change
While the upcoming protest represents the movement’s first major physical action, ReclaimSA has already evolved into something more comprehensive—a platform for sustainable citizen engagement.
“The protest is our initial show of strength, but it’s just the beginning,” explains one of the provincial coordinators. “We’re building structures that will allow citizens to reclaim power long after the marching is done.”
This includes developing:
- Community-based monitoring systems for government accountability
- Economic initiatives supporting local businesses
- Legal strategies for institutional reform
- Continuous citizen engagement platforms
The Power of Collective Frustration
What makes ReclaimSA unique isn’t its structure or strategy, but its origin story. This isn’t a movement orchestrated by political veterans or funded by special interests. It emerged organically from the genuine frustration of ordinary South Africans who have decided they’ve had enough.
“The magic happened when people realised they weren’t alone in their anger,” shares a communications team volunteer. “That shared frustration transformed into shared purpose almost overnight.”
What's Next for ReclaimSA
As the movement prepares for its first national protest, the energy continues to build. New members join hourly, professionals offer specialised skills, and communities across the country are beginning to organise their own local actions.
The class-action lawsuit that started it all remains in development, with legal team volunteers researching strategies and precedents. But the movement has expanded beyond that single goal to embrace a broader vision: a South Africa where citizens actively participate in shaping their future rather than passively accepting their circumstances.
Join the Reclamation
For those seeing ReclaimSA for the first time, the message is simple: your frustration is valid, your voice matters, and there’s now a platform for turning complaint into change.
As Lemo puts it: “We’re not just protesting against what’s broken—we’re building what should have been there all along.”
ReclaimSA continues to organize and welcome new members. To learn more or get involved, visit our website or join the conversation on social media using #ReclaimSA.