Cry, The Beloved Country starts out with a father searching for his sister, brother, and son. These three all left their hometown to Johannesburg, where they would all soon change as South Africa loses its natural features. Each sibling left their hometown in Ndotsheni to search for something. Reverend Stephen Kumalo's sister, Gertrude, left to pursue the search for her husband, which at the end was useless because he was never found. Ex-Reverend John Kumalo left to find Gertrude and her son whom traveled alone. Finally, Stephen's son, Absalom, traveled to Johannesburg and never came back. All of them were missing for 10 years with no words heard, until Stephen received a letter of his sister's illness.

When Kumalo reached Johannesburg, he sees the slums and people striking to get justice. Also, when leaving, he still sees this and knows it would continue. Johannesburg is a crowded industrializing country...