A Dry White Season
ValentijnVatSamen
Summary
Characters
• Benjamin (Ben) du Toit - He is a grandfather. He’s white and a born Afrikaner. He is a history
teacher. He used to be a y half (role) in rugby for the Transvaal team (province in South Africa)
when he was younger. He lives in Johannesburg.
• Susan - Ben’s wife. She’s white.
• Suzette - Ben’s daughter.
• Johan - Ben’s son.
• Piet - Ben du Toit’s grandchild.
• Gordon Ngubene - He is a black male. He’s Ben’s gardener. Ben has known him and his family
for 15 years. He lives with his family in Soweto, a township.
• Emily Ngubene - Gordon’s wive. She’s black.
• Jonathan - Gordon and Emily’s son.
• Julius Ngakula - Gordon’s lawyer. He’s black.
• Wellington - Jonathan’s friend.
• Stanley - A black cab driver with many connections. He is a very radiant man. Whenever he in a
room the people around him can feel his presence, because he is a very powerful and extravert
man. He helps Ben in his struggle for justice, because he nds that one has to keep ghting,
even when it seems that nothing is being reached, because if one stops ghting he could just as
well roll over and lie dead.
• Ian McKenzie - A barrister/lawyer and a friend of Ben’s. He has won many cases. He also cares
about human rights and equality.
• Colonel Viljoen - The “boss” of the Secret Branch.
• Captain Stolz - He is part of the Special Branch, who detains and kills black people that ght
the Apartheid-system.
• Jaanie - Captain Stolz’s son.
• Melanie Bruwer - She’s a a journalist for The Rand Daily Mail.
• Professor Bruwer - Melanie’s father.
• Father Masonwane - A priest and a friend of Emily’s. He helps getting justice for Gordon’
death.
• Margaret Ledwaba - A friend of Emily’s. She helps getting justice for Gordon’ death.
• Dr. Herzog - A doctor who pulled Gordon’s teeth without anaesthesia.
• Advocate Louw - The lawyer who tried to protect the o cials and Captain Stolz during the
court trials.
• Dr. Hassiem - One of the doctors who carried out the post mortem of Gordon’s death.
• Archibald Mabaso - He was tricked into testifying that he saw Gordon in good health, however,
during the court trial, he said he was tricked and that Captain Stolz beat him.
• Tokozile - A young girl who’s sister was shot during the school children-protests.
• The Nurse - She gave a statement about Jonathan in the hospital.
• Wellington Setole - A guy who was arrested with Jonathan and saw everything. He eventually
gave an a davit to Melanie.
1
ffi fl ffi fi fi fi fi
ValentijnVatSamen
Summary
Characters
• Benjamin (Ben) du Toit - He is a grandfather. He’s white and a born Afrikaner. He is a history
teacher. He used to be a y half (role) in rugby for the Transvaal team (province in South Africa)
when he was younger. He lives in Johannesburg.
• Susan - Ben’s wife. She’s white.
• Suzette - Ben’s daughter.
• Johan - Ben’s son.
• Piet - Ben du Toit’s grandchild.
• Gordon Ngubene - He is a black male. He’s Ben’s gardener. Ben has known him and his family
for 15 years. He lives with his family in Soweto, a township.
• Emily Ngubene - Gordon’s wive. She’s black.
• Jonathan - Gordon and Emily’s son.
• Julius Ngakula - Gordon’s lawyer. He’s black.
• Wellington - Jonathan’s friend.
• Stanley - A black cab driver with many connections. He is a very radiant man. Whenever he in a
room the people around him can feel his presence, because he is a very powerful and extravert
man. He helps Ben in his struggle for justice, because he nds that one has to keep ghting,
even when it seems that nothing is being reached, because if one stops ghting he could just as
well roll over and lie dead.
• Ian McKenzie - A barrister/lawyer and a friend of Ben’s. He has won many cases. He also cares
about human rights and equality.
• Colonel Viljoen - The “boss” of the Secret Branch.
• Captain Stolz - He is part of the Special Branch, who detains and kills black people that ght
the Apartheid-system.
• Jaanie - Captain Stolz’s son.
• Melanie Bruwer - She’s a a journalist for The Rand Daily Mail.
• Professor Bruwer - Melanie’s father.
• Father Masonwane - A priest and a friend of Emily’s. He helps getting justice for Gordon’
death.
• Margaret Ledwaba - A friend of Emily’s. She helps getting justice for Gordon’ death.
• Dr. Herzog - A doctor who pulled Gordon’s teeth without anaesthesia.
• Advocate Louw - The lawyer who tried to protect the o cials and Captain Stolz during the
court trials.
• Dr. Hassiem - One of the doctors who carried out the post mortem of Gordon’s death.
• Archibald Mabaso - He was tricked into testifying that he saw Gordon in good health, however,
during the court trial, he said he was tricked and that Captain Stolz beat him.
• Tokozile - A young girl who’s sister was shot during the school children-protests.
• The Nurse - She gave a statement about Jonathan in the hospital.
• Wellington Setole - A guy who was arrested with Jonathan and saw everything. He eventually
gave an a davit to Melanie.
1
ffi fl ffi fi fi fi fi
