CHAPTER 8

Summary

■ We learn about Papa Mavuso’s history: He became such a harsh man because he
believes he was betrayed (deceived) by the mines and the bank. As a young man, he was
a miner in a legal mine. The mine closed and he was laid off (lost his job). All his
savings were ‘stolen’ out of his bank account and he was left with nothing
■ Katekani discovers a newspaper article about Spike Maphosa. This gives them all the
evidence they need to prove that he is not a legend (story) but a real person. The caption
for the photo names him, and says that he is in his art studio in Kabokweni,
Mpumalanga, which is just over an hour’s drive by car from Barberton.
■ It seems that Spike has set up an organisation (foundation) that is getting funding to fight
against illegal mining and child labour. It is described as a ‘crusade’ – a campaign, a
struggle, a movement – that is gathering support and funds to do this work.
■ Regile is amazed by this information, and finds it very difficult to read the article slowly
and clearly: He says two very important words: ‘He’s real’. Spike is no longer just a
dream or a person in Taiba’s optimistic imagination. He lives in reality.
■ Katekani’s first response is to ask what Regile now plans to do. Like, Taiba, she wants
to change dreams into reality
Important

■ This chapter becomes an important time of self-reflection for Regile. While he is excited
that Spike Maphosa is real, he falls back into his old thinking patterns: there is no hope;
the mine is their life; there will be no change; they must accept everything and get on
with it. Katekani is very angry with him and says that the mine has stolen his soul.
Regile replies that the mine will also steal Taiba’s. We see that Regile has lost any sense
of hope he may have had. He has no energy to change his circumstances. He has chosen
to stay in the mines for the sake of the money he sends home to his mother. Katekani
thinks the choice is only about money.
■ The next day, Regile spends an unproductive, disappointing day in Barberton, where he
earns just R7.
■ On his return, he finds Papa Mavuso brutally assaulting Katekani who is screaming in
terrible pain. Her father deliberately damages one of her sticks so that it will be useless
to her. He verbally abuses her with cruel insults. Regile shouts at him to stop. His voice
sounds manly. We see that he is now doing what is right. AsTaiba and Katekani
predicted, he is taking a stand against violence and injustice. He is bravely protecting
others without a thought for himself
■ Papa Mavuso tells him that Katekani has helped Taiba to escape, and he accuses Regile
again of being soft. He says he no longer trusts him, and takes his privileges away.
■ He is prepared to tell dreadful lies about Regile and Taiba to his police friends. Regile
imagines breaking Katekani’s stick over Papa Mavuso’s head.
■ Katekani persuades Regile to leave. Something has changed in him: he seems to be close
to deciding to help Taiba and Katekani.
 Themes:
THEME Illegal Mining, Corruption and Exploitation
■DEVELOPMENT: We hear from Papa Mavuso himself that there is corruption in the police and he
has friends in the police who he has bribed. However, the discovery of the real Spike Maphosa
reminds us that there are people fighting against the exploitation of illegal mining. This gives us hope
that maybe there is a way for our protagonist (Regile) to fight against what he has felt is a hopeless
situation.
THEME Human Trafficking and Child Labour
■DEVELOPMENT: When Regile worries about what will happen to Taiba, he is aware of how
vulnerable (helpless) the young boy is on his own escaping from the mine. He is an illegal person with
no rights and no documentation. He has been trafficked like a slave to South Africa. He faces
imprisonment and assault. Another mining syndicate could kidnap him. He could also end up in other
situations that trafficked children are used for, like sex slavery. At this point his concern is for Taiba
rather than himself.
■ THEME Optimism and Hope
■ DEVELOPMENT: This becomes a central theme of this chapter. Spike Maphosa is a
real person who is fighting to free children who have been trafficked to the illegal mines.
This means that Taiba’s hope was not just a dream. The article encourages Katekani
enough to risk helping Taiba escape so that he can find Spike. Regile is still very
troubled by pessimistic thoughts and has not been able to convince himself that escape is
possible. He thinks about all the things that could go wrong. However, the heroism and
courage (bravery) of Taiba and Spike seem to inspire him. When he stands up to Papa
Mavuso he finds his ‘goodness’ for the first time. Katekani’s and Taiba’s optimistic
belief that Regile will do the ‘right thing’ seems to be coming true. We now also believe
that Regile is capable of change and may make the decision to help Taiba after all.
■ THEME Love and Friendship
■ DEVELOPMENT: Papa Mavuso’s treatment of his daughter and his threatening behaviour
towards Regile are the complete opposite of how a father should behave towards his children.
There is no love – only violence, punishment, verbal abuse and coldness. On the other hand,
however, the story of Spike Mavuso is a reminder that human beings are willing to sacrifice
themselves for the good of others. We understand that love does not only exist between
individuals, but can also be a commitment to fighting against something unfair or unjust in
society. Katekani shows this commitment to a friend when she frees Taiba. She must have
known the risk she was taking, but she was prepared to do this for the sake of another human
being. Finally, it is Regile who is left to think about what he should be doing. He automatically
stands up to defend Katekani as a friend. However, he is unable yet to decide to support Taiba
and join him to find Spike. His relationship with Katekani is very damaged by this and she is
terribly disappointed.
Imagery

■ Images of light:
■ a Katekani’s decorated sticks are ‘bright in a room where nearly everything is a brownish colour’. Through her
determination and her belief that things will get better, Katekani has created something beautiful and hopeful
(‘bright’) in a world that seems hopeless and without joy (‘brownish’).
■ b After their argument, when Katekani leaves Regile in disappointment, the ‘brightness’ fades, and the mood
changes to one of pessimism. ‘It has grown so dark that after a few seconds I can no longer see the flowers and
vines decorating her sticks. She is just a dark shape, moving away from me.’ Katekani literally walks away
into the darkness of the evening until he can no longer see the flowers and vines on her sticks. She becomes an
unclear shadow in the darkness. Figuratively, they are separated by anger, so the ‘light’ of their happiness has
dimmed. He has refused to help and has said some ugly things. The brightness and joy,brought by Katekani’s
sticks, have disappeared. She has walked away and it seems that their friendship may be ending.
■ 4 Images of birds: ‘The birds are all silent now.’ We are reminded of how Regile and Katekani learned about
birds together. They enjoyed their time in Barberton identifying birds to the tourists. Birds have also been an
important reminder to Regile of the freedom of nature. He now feels that he has lost this happiness.
Questions:

■ How is Taiba like Spike Maphosa?

■ Write a diary entry as Regile after you have found out the Spike is a real person.
■ Write a second diary entry after you have witnessed Katekani beinf beaten by her father
for releasing Taiba.