FLARDE
NOTES FOR EXAM
AND ASSIGNMENTS 2026
,FLARDE NOTES, ANSWERS 2026
SUBGENRE OF FLARDE
Novella (novelle in Afrikaans)
AUTHOR OF FLARDE
Marlize Hobbs
Flarde is an autobiography written by Marlize Hobbs. She got the inspiration through working
as a social worker in Ganyesa.
MEANING OF THE TITLE (FLARDE)
Flarde means tatters [torn pieces of cloth]. It introduces the theme of the novella by referring
to something made up of shreds. In this story, you’ll find different characters experiencing
social issues and how it links to the title.
MAIN IDEA OF FLARDE
The main idea in Flarde is based on the idea of broken people and a broken society.
,THEMES – there are many themes in the novella: child
abuse family violence drug addiction alcoholism
family murder poverty abuse of women
unwanted pregnancy
suicide
The book is divided into a number of short chapters and the names of different characters are
used as chapter titles. Different characters also act as narrators who give different
perspectives on the events. [each chapter has a different narrator].
3 RECURRING MOTIFS – fire, wind and dust
FAMILY PLAYING THE CENTRAL ROLE IN FLARDE - (Dipeko-familie)
, SHORT SUMMARY
The most important characters (main characters) in Flarde are Mama Minoto, the social
worker Lisa, and Kabelo. They can also be considered the protagonists, because they play a
central role in the novella.
Mama Minoto - is an elderly foster mother. She is described as fat, loud, funny and caring.
She expresses her love for Kabelo and would always take care of him. She fights really
hard to become Kabelo’s legal foster parent. Even though she hated Oneboy Dipeko, she
still goes to Lisa the social worker to help bury Oneboy. This shows she is a kind hearted
lady. She receives money to take care of one foster child and also sells chicken legs to
make extra money. She keeps secrets about the Dipeko family but later reveals
everything. She carried a burden with her but couldn’t hold it in any longer. She lives in
poverty, this social problem affects her lifestyle and ability to care for Kabelo. Pulane is
the man Mama Minoto loved but could not marry. She believed in Modimo (God) even
though they were battling she was grateful. [This character is linked to the theme
poverty]
The social worker Lisa – she is a social worker in Ganyesa. Her childhood on the farm
Mooirust has her made very happy until a hail storm destroys her father's fields. This
character started drinking because of her problems and takes on the image of her
alcoholic father who was emotionally devastated. After school, Lisa studied Social Work in
Johannesburg. After her studies, Lisa does Missionary work in Hillbrow for a year. Here
she experiences the dark side of life and she loses her faith in religion. After her time in
Hillbrow, she started on 1 February 1999 in Ganyesa, a small country town village,
working as a social worker. She is the only white person in the community and she
struggles to cope with the difficult social circumstances. She tries her best to help the
community and especially gets involved in the Dipeko family. She helps Mama Minoto
become Kabelo's legal foster parent and to bury Oneboy Dipeko after his death at state
expense. During her stay in Ganyesa, Lisa is attacked by a young man. This is for her a
traumatic event during which she also has a severe epileptic seizure. In the
NOTES FOR EXAM
AND ASSIGNMENTS 2026
,FLARDE NOTES, ANSWERS 2026
SUBGENRE OF FLARDE
Novella (novelle in Afrikaans)
AUTHOR OF FLARDE
Marlize Hobbs
Flarde is an autobiography written by Marlize Hobbs. She got the inspiration through working
as a social worker in Ganyesa.
MEANING OF THE TITLE (FLARDE)
Flarde means tatters [torn pieces of cloth]. It introduces the theme of the novella by referring
to something made up of shreds. In this story, you’ll find different characters experiencing
social issues and how it links to the title.
MAIN IDEA OF FLARDE
The main idea in Flarde is based on the idea of broken people and a broken society.
,THEMES – there are many themes in the novella: child
abuse family violence drug addiction alcoholism
family murder poverty abuse of women
unwanted pregnancy
suicide
The book is divided into a number of short chapters and the names of different characters are
used as chapter titles. Different characters also act as narrators who give different
perspectives on the events. [each chapter has a different narrator].
3 RECURRING MOTIFS – fire, wind and dust
FAMILY PLAYING THE CENTRAL ROLE IN FLARDE - (Dipeko-familie)
, SHORT SUMMARY
The most important characters (main characters) in Flarde are Mama Minoto, the social
worker Lisa, and Kabelo. They can also be considered the protagonists, because they play a
central role in the novella.
Mama Minoto - is an elderly foster mother. She is described as fat, loud, funny and caring.
She expresses her love for Kabelo and would always take care of him. She fights really
hard to become Kabelo’s legal foster parent. Even though she hated Oneboy Dipeko, she
still goes to Lisa the social worker to help bury Oneboy. This shows she is a kind hearted
lady. She receives money to take care of one foster child and also sells chicken legs to
make extra money. She keeps secrets about the Dipeko family but later reveals
everything. She carried a burden with her but couldn’t hold it in any longer. She lives in
poverty, this social problem affects her lifestyle and ability to care for Kabelo. Pulane is
the man Mama Minoto loved but could not marry. She believed in Modimo (God) even
though they were battling she was grateful. [This character is linked to the theme
poverty]
The social worker Lisa – she is a social worker in Ganyesa. Her childhood on the farm
Mooirust has her made very happy until a hail storm destroys her father's fields. This
character started drinking because of her problems and takes on the image of her
alcoholic father who was emotionally devastated. After school, Lisa studied Social Work in
Johannesburg. After her studies, Lisa does Missionary work in Hillbrow for a year. Here
she experiences the dark side of life and she loses her faith in religion. After her time in
Hillbrow, she started on 1 February 1999 in Ganyesa, a small country town village,
working as a social worker. She is the only white person in the community and she
struggles to cope with the difficult social circumstances. She tries her best to help the
community and especially gets involved in the Dipeko family. She helps Mama Minoto
become Kabelo's legal foster parent and to bury Oneboy Dipeko after his death at state
expense. During her stay in Ganyesa, Lisa is attacked by a young man. This is for her a
traumatic event during which she also has a severe epileptic seizure. In the
