Dreaming of Light - Summary Chapter 1-10
English
University of Pretoria
David Mungai [Date] [Course title]
, lOMoARcPSD|44397427
Dreaming of Light – Summary Chapter 1-10
Chapter 1
We meet 18-year-old Regile Dlamini who is in charge of a team of young Mozambican boys
(the ‘recruits’). They have all been illegally trafficked into South Africa to work in an
abandoned gold mine in Barberton. Regile was once like these young boys, but he has
earned the trust of his boss, Papa Mavuso, over the four years he has been on the mine. He
has even been allowed to visit his mother in Swaziland because he always comes back.
Taiba and his friend, Aries, (two of ‘the recruits’) have been working underground for two
months now.
At first, Regile has no patience with the constant questions from Taiba. Taiba believes
that they can be rescued from their slavery in the mine by the police. Regile tells him that
the mine is too dangerous for the police and that they have been bribed by the mining
gangs. The legal owners have abandoned the mines and have lost control to the gangs
(or ‘syndicates’). The miners who are sent down into the mines to work them illegally are
the zama zamas.
Taiba and his friend, Aires, have been badly beaten by Faceman for not working
satisfactorily. Aires is now weak and ill. Taiba refuses to give up hope of going home
again. He talks of the legendary Spike Maphosa who escaped from the mine. He believes
that Spike will be able to rescue them all if they can only contact him. Regile tells Taiba
that Spike does not really exist.
Chapter 2
When Faceman arrives back underground, Taiba tries to protect his friend, Aires, by talking
a lot and challenging Faceman. He hopes that Faceman will not see how weak Aires is.
Taiba doesn’t want Faceman to discover that Aires cannot work. When Faceman sees
Aires, he is so angry that he beats both Taiba and Regile. Taiba is very badly injured but is
only interested in getting Aries out of the mine before he dies. Regile tells Taiba to hide his
friend in the mine so that Faceman cannot find him.
Chapter 3
Regile and Taiba discuss the story of Spike Maphosa, who apparently escaped from an
illegal mine and had the gang arrested. He is now (supposedly) an artist creating paintings of
the illegal mines and child miners. He has dedicated his life to saving them. Regile insists
that Spike is not a real person. Taiba discusses the legend of Spike Maphosa with the other
young miners. Security guards sent by the legal owners of the mine arrive to check the mine.
There is a gun battle between them and the illegal miners near the surface. Everyone
underground is told to turn off their lamps and remain very quiet. The gunfire sets off a rock
fall. Taiba hurries off to find Aires, who is in hiding.
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English
University of Pretoria
David Mungai [Date] [Course title]
, lOMoARcPSD|44397427
Dreaming of Light – Summary Chapter 1-10
Chapter 1
We meet 18-year-old Regile Dlamini who is in charge of a team of young Mozambican boys
(the ‘recruits’). They have all been illegally trafficked into South Africa to work in an
abandoned gold mine in Barberton. Regile was once like these young boys, but he has
earned the trust of his boss, Papa Mavuso, over the four years he has been on the mine. He
has even been allowed to visit his mother in Swaziland because he always comes back.
Taiba and his friend, Aries, (two of ‘the recruits’) have been working underground for two
months now.
At first, Regile has no patience with the constant questions from Taiba. Taiba believes
that they can be rescued from their slavery in the mine by the police. Regile tells him that
the mine is too dangerous for the police and that they have been bribed by the mining
gangs. The legal owners have abandoned the mines and have lost control to the gangs
(or ‘syndicates’). The miners who are sent down into the mines to work them illegally are
the zama zamas.
Taiba and his friend, Aires, have been badly beaten by Faceman for not working
satisfactorily. Aires is now weak and ill. Taiba refuses to give up hope of going home
again. He talks of the legendary Spike Maphosa who escaped from the mine. He believes
that Spike will be able to rescue them all if they can only contact him. Regile tells Taiba
that Spike does not really exist.
Chapter 2
When Faceman arrives back underground, Taiba tries to protect his friend, Aires, by talking
a lot and challenging Faceman. He hopes that Faceman will not see how weak Aires is.
Taiba doesn’t want Faceman to discover that Aires cannot work. When Faceman sees
Aires, he is so angry that he beats both Taiba and Regile. Taiba is very badly injured but is
only interested in getting Aries out of the mine before he dies. Regile tells Taiba to hide his
friend in the mine so that Faceman cannot find him.
Chapter 3
Regile and Taiba discuss the story of Spike Maphosa, who apparently escaped from an
illegal mine and had the gang arrested. He is now (supposedly) an artist creating paintings of
the illegal mines and child miners. He has dedicated his life to saving them. Regile insists
that Spike is not a real person. Taiba discusses the legend of Spike Maphosa with the other
young miners. Security guards sent by the legal owners of the mine arrive to check the mine.
There is a gun battle between them and the illegal miners near the surface. Everyone
underground is told to turn off their lamps and remain very quiet. The gunfire sets off a rock
fall. Taiba hurries off to find Aires, who is in hiding.
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