Chapters 1-3 Summary

Lauretta Ngcobo was born in South Africa but went into exile in London during the 1960 political upheaval. Ms. Ngcobo returned to South Africa in the 1990s where she began working for the Inkatha Freedom Party. This is Ms. Ngcobo's second novel.

In Chapter 1, Mr. Pienaar becomes upset that the women in Sigageni are emptying the dipping tanks in protest against government mandate. Mr. Pienaar runs his truck toward a group of women to show his unhappiness, causing the women to celebrate the fact that their small protest has finally gotten some result. Among these women is Jezile, a newly married woman who feels the disapproval of her mother-in-law even as the other women of the village praise Jezile for her leadership. Jezile has felt MaBiyela's disapproval for months now, ever since Jezile failed to become pregnant. For three years Jezile has...