Summary

In his letter home, Sizwe tells his wife that he, in a manner of speaking, is dead. He tells her about how he is looking for a job, which is difficult because Port Elizabeth is a large place; many men have arrived looking for jobs due to the scarcity of jobs in other places. He tells her about how he was discovered in a raid and how a stamp saying that he had to return home was put in his passbook, so he went to stay with a friend of a friend named Buntu.

The scene transfers to Buntu’s house, where Sizwe meets Buntu. Buntu asks Sizwe about his trouble and Sizwe explains that he has no permit to stay in Port Elizabeth and that his home is King William’s Town. Buntu asks Sizwe how he was discovered by the government and Sizwe explains...