FULL NAMES:
STUDENT NUMBER:
UNIQUE NUMBER:
MODULE CODE: ENG2611
MODULE NAME: APPLIED ENGLISH LANGUAGE FOR FOUNDATION AND INTERMEDIATE PHASE
ASSIGNMENT: 03
YEAR MODULE 2025
1
, Tsotsi by Athol Fugard
In Tsotsi by Athol Fugard, the theme of cultural identity is at the heart of the novel’s
powerful exploration of a young man’s transformation in a society damaged by poverty,
apartheid, and the loss of community. The main character, a ruthless young gangster
known only as Tsotsi, lives in the harsh world of a Johannesburg township, where
survival is often prioritised over morality. From the beginning, Tsotsi’s lack of identity is
evident not only in his name but in his behaviour, which is cold, detached, and violent.
Fugard uses this character to reflect the psychological and social consequences of
apartheid, which robbed many black South Africans of not only economic opportunity
but also personal and cultural stability. As Tsotsi begins to reconnect with forgotten parts
of himself, his memories, his past, his emotions—he starts a journey that reveals the
fragmented identity created by systemic oppression. The novel invites the reader to
witness a story of redemption that is deeply tied to the search for cultural roots,
belonging, and human connection. In this way, Fugard uses Tsotsi’s personal struggle to
symbolise a much larger national issue—the fractured identity of a generation that grew
up without guidance or historical continuity due to forced removals, broken families, and
violent urbanisation.
One of the most striking elements of the novel is how it shows the destructive effect of
social alienation on identity. Tsotsi is introduced as a character with no past, no family,
and no attachments—his entire identity is shaped around crime and fear. He is part of a
gang that functions without empathy, guided only by dominance and survival. This
detachment is not presented as a natural personality trait, but rather as the outcome of
trauma and disconnection. As the narrative progresses, Fugard slowly peels back the
layers of Tsotsi’s character, revealing a deeply wounded child who was separated from
his mother and forced to live on the streets (Fugard, 2006:118). This separation from his
cultural roots and family is symbolic of what many South Africans experienced during
apartheid, when forced removals and migrant labour laws separated people from their
homes and communities. Tsotsi’s transformation begins when he accidentally ends up
caring for a baby, which forces him to reflect on what it means to be human. This small
act of responsibility sparks memories and emotions that had long been buried. Fugard
2
STUDENT NUMBER:
UNIQUE NUMBER:
MODULE CODE: ENG2611
MODULE NAME: APPLIED ENGLISH LANGUAGE FOR FOUNDATION AND INTERMEDIATE PHASE
ASSIGNMENT: 03
YEAR MODULE 2025
1
, Tsotsi by Athol Fugard
In Tsotsi by Athol Fugard, the theme of cultural identity is at the heart of the novel’s
powerful exploration of a young man’s transformation in a society damaged by poverty,
apartheid, and the loss of community. The main character, a ruthless young gangster
known only as Tsotsi, lives in the harsh world of a Johannesburg township, where
survival is often prioritised over morality. From the beginning, Tsotsi’s lack of identity is
evident not only in his name but in his behaviour, which is cold, detached, and violent.
Fugard uses this character to reflect the psychological and social consequences of
apartheid, which robbed many black South Africans of not only economic opportunity
but also personal and cultural stability. As Tsotsi begins to reconnect with forgotten parts
of himself, his memories, his past, his emotions—he starts a journey that reveals the
fragmented identity created by systemic oppression. The novel invites the reader to
witness a story of redemption that is deeply tied to the search for cultural roots,
belonging, and human connection. In this way, Fugard uses Tsotsi’s personal struggle to
symbolise a much larger national issue—the fractured identity of a generation that grew
up without guidance or historical continuity due to forced removals, broken families, and
violent urbanisation.
One of the most striking elements of the novel is how it shows the destructive effect of
social alienation on identity. Tsotsi is introduced as a character with no past, no family,
and no attachments—his entire identity is shaped around crime and fear. He is part of a
gang that functions without empathy, guided only by dominance and survival. This
detachment is not presented as a natural personality trait, but rather as the outcome of
trauma and disconnection. As the narrative progresses, Fugard slowly peels back the
layers of Tsotsi’s character, revealing a deeply wounded child who was separated from
his mother and forced to live on the streets (Fugard, 2006:118). This separation from his
cultural roots and family is symbolic of what many South Africans experienced during
apartheid, when forced removals and migrant labour laws separated people from their
homes and communities. Tsotsi’s transformation begins when he accidentally ends up
caring for a baby, which forces him to reflect on what it means to be human. This small
act of responsibility sparks memories and emotions that had long been buried. Fugard
2
