GRADE 11
ENGLISH 1ST ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE (FAL)
STUDY GUIDE INCLUDING
EXAM QUESTIONS AND MEMORANDUMS
, Novel: Dreaming of Light
GENRE Novel
TITLE DREAMING OF LIGHT
AUTHOR Jayne Bauling
PLOT SUMMARY
Chapter 1: We meet 18-year-old Regile Dlamini who is in charge of a team of young
Mozambican boys: the recruits (new members of the mining team). 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, Aires, (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 the police 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 in 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 does not 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 Aires 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 there 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.
8 Grade 11 English First Additional Language
ENGLISH 1ST ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE (FAL)
STUDY GUIDE INCLUDING
EXAM QUESTIONS AND MEMORANDUMS
, Novel: Dreaming of Light
GENRE Novel
TITLE DREAMING OF LIGHT
AUTHOR Jayne Bauling
PLOT SUMMARY
Chapter 1: We meet 18-year-old Regile Dlamini who is in charge of a team of young
Mozambican boys: the recruits (new members of the mining team). 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, Aires, (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 the police 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 in 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 does not 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 Aires 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 there 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.
8 Grade 11 English First Additional Language
