THE DETECTIVE STORY IN VEN9A:

AN ANALYSIS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO

BONO LA
/\
MBONI

and

NWANA WA MME ANGA

by

AVHURENGWI EDWARD MAUNGEDZO

Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of

MASTER OF ARTS

In the subject

African languages

atthe

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA

Supervisor : Prof M J Mafela

Joint Supervisor : Mr N R Raselekoane

/,...,,,. 4nnn
 DECLARATION

I declare that THE DETECTIVE STORY IN VEN~A : AN ANALYSIS WITH SPECIALREFERENCE TO

BONA ~A MBONI AND NWANA WA MME ANGA is my work and that all the sources that I have used

or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references.

MR A E MAUNGEDZO DATE
 DEDICATION

The dissertation is dedicated to my wife Livhuwani Violet, sons Ngudo, Maan~a and Rihangwele Silas

for support, love, interest and encouragement they have shown throughout the study.
 ii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First and foremost, I would like to thank my supervisor, Professor M J Mafela for his valuable guidance

and constructive criticism which urged me to improve the quality of my work.

I would be failing in my work if I do not mention Mr N R Raselekoane, my joint supervisor, who also

guided me to the end of my research.

I wish to convey my thanks and heartfelt gratitude to all my friends, too many to mention by name, for

assisting me in various ways in making the presentation of this thesis possible.

My ex-classmate, Mr N C Rananga for his encouragement in this study.

My uncle, Inspector M M Madadzhe who made an arrangement on my behalf to meet Detective

Mamuthubi of Siloam Police Station. This shows great love for his nephew. Detective Mamuthubi, you

did a great job.

The typists Mrs Catherine Makhado and Mrs Khakhu Rudzani for their excellent work.

Above all, there is the Almighty God who gave me everything that I have: my life, wife, children, father

and all the achievements.

 iii

SUMMARY

he purpose of this research is to make a literary appreciation of the detective story in Tshivenda.

Chapter 1 is the introductory chapter which discusses the aim of study, the definition of detective story,

methodology, detective noels in Tshivenda, background information regarding the authors, summaries

regarding selected novels and the scope of research.

Chapter 2 is devoted to the plot structure of the two detective novels, and outlines the diegetic and

metadiegetic stories. The elements of mystery and dramatic irony are also discussed.

Chapter 3 concentrates mainly on the setting of the two selected detective novels and its influence on

the crimes committed, the lives of the characters and the tools that are used.

Chapter 4 deals with the depiction of the victims, suspects and detectives in the selected detective

stories.

Chapter 5 concludes the study and summarises the main findings of the appraisal.

Key terms: Tshivenda detective fiction; S N Mahamba; N M Mphaphuli; metadiegetic story;

diegetic story; mystery; dramatic irony; plot structure; setting; characterisation.

 iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Pages

DECLARATION ...................................................................................................................

DEDICATION ...................................................................................................................... ii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ..................................................................................................... iii

SUMMARY ......................................................................................................................... iv

CHAPTER 1

1.1 AIM OF RESEARCH ......................................................................................... . 1

1.2 WHAT IS A DETECTIVE STORY? ................................................................... . 1

1.3 METHOD OF RESEARCH ............................................................................... . 2

1.3.1 Contextual approach ......................................................................................... 3

1.3.2 Comparative approach ..................................................................................... . 4

1.3.3 Consultative approach ..................................................................................... . 6

1.3.4 Structuralist approach ....................................................................................... 6

1.4 DETECTIVE NOVELS IN TSHIVENDA ............................................................ . 7

1.5 BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT THE AUTHORS ............................. . 10

1.5.1 SN Mahamba ................................................................................................... 10

1.5.2 N M Mphaphuli .................................................................................................. 11

1.6 SUMMARIES OF SELECTED NOVELS .......................................................... . 11

1.6.1 Bono la mboni ................................................................................................... 11

1.6.2 Nwana wa mme anga ....................................................................................... 12

1.7 SCOPE OF RESEARCH ................................................................................. . 14

CHAPTER2

2 PLOT STRUCTURE ..................................................................................... . 15

2.1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. 15

2.2 TYPES OF STORIES IN DETECTIVE NOVELS ............................................ . 15

 Pages

2.2.1 Metadiegetic story ... ....... ... ..... ....... ..... ............... ..... ..... .... ...... ....... .. .... ..... .. ... .. . 15

2.2.1.1 Bono~ mboni .................................................................................................. 16

2.2.1.2 Nwana wa mme anga .................................... .......... ................... ................ ..... 17

2.2.2 Diegetic story ............... ..................................... .............. ........... ...................... 18

2.2.2.1 Bono I.a Mboni ......... ..... ......................................................... .............. ............ 19

"
2.2.2.2 Nwana wa mme anga .. ..... ........ .. ..... .. .. .. ..... .. ...... ..... .... ............... ................ .... 20

2.3 THE CONCEPT PLOT . ... ............................................................................. 21

2.3.1 The exposition .............. ... ............. ..... .... ........... ..... .......... ... ... ..... .................... 23

2.3.2 The rising action .. .... ..... .... .................................. .... ..... ..... ........ .............. ........ 27

2.3.3 Climax ................ ... .... ......... ............................................ ....... ..... ..................... 35

2.3.4 The ending .... ... ...... ...... .... ... .............................. ...... .... ..... ... ........ .................... 39

2.4 THE ELEMENT OF MYSTERY...................................................................... 41

2.4.1 Mystery in Bono ~a mboni ... ... ....... ... .. ......... ....... ..... ..... ..... ... ... ...... ................ .. . 42

2.4.2 Mystery in Nwana wa mme anga ................... ........... ...... ... ... ..... ...................... 45

2.5 DRAMATIC IRONY IN THE SELECTED NOVELS.......................................... 47

2.5.1 ,,
Dramatic irony in Bono la mboni ........................... ........... ............................... 49

2.5.2 Dramatic irony in Nwana wa mme anga .......................................................... 51

2.6 RESUME .. .... ... ... ... .... ...... ... ... ... .. ... ...... ... .. .. ... .... ........ ..... ....... ..... ... ...... ... ..... ... . 53

CHAPTER3

3 SETTING ........................................................................................................ 55

3.1 INTRODUCTION .................................................... ........... ............................. 55

3.2 SETTING IN THE TWO SELECTED DETECTIVE NOVELS ........................ 57

3.2.1 Setting and crime committed ... ..... ... .. .. .. ..... ... ...... ...... ..... .... ... ...... ......... .......... 60

3.2.2 Setting and characters . .... ... ... ... .. .. ... ....... .. ... ... ...... ...... ...... ......... ............... .. ... 70

3.2.2.1 Victims ..................... ...... ..................................... ....... ..... .... ............................ 72

3.2.2.2 Suspects ...................... ........................................... ........................... ........ ..... 75

3.2.2.3 Detectives and investigation ........................................................................... 81

 Pages

3.2.3 Setting and tools ............................................................................................. 88

3.3 RESUME ........................................................................................................ 96

CHAPTER4

4 CHARACTERISATION ................................................................................... 97

4.1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 97

4.2 CHARACTERISATION IN THE SELECTED NOVELS ................................. . 99

4.2.1 The Victims .................................................................................................... 99

4.2.2 The suspects ................................................................................................. 106

4.2.3 The detectives ............................................................................................... 122

4.3 RESUME ....................................................................................................... 129

CHAPTERS

5 CONCLUSION............................................................................................... 131

BIBLIOGRAPHY............................................................................................ 137
 Page 1

CHAPTER 1.

1.1. AIM OF RESEARCH

The aim of this research is to make a literary appreciation of the detective story in Tshivenda.
"-

The choice of this topic, with its relevance to African literary studies, was influenced by the

limited number of detective stories in Tshivens!a and the absence of research on the

detective story in Tshiven){a. This study therefore addresses this gap.

This research will be based on two detective novels, namely; Bono Afa mboni by S N
•
Mahamba and Nwana wa mme anga by N M Mphaphuli. These are the only novels in

Tshiven~a that bear the characteristics of a detective story. One can say that they are the

first real detective stories in Tshiven~a. It is therefore imperative to look at how the

characteristics of a detective story are handled in these novels.

1.2 WHAT IS A DETECTIVE STORY?

The concept "detective story" is defined by several literary scholars in different ways. In the

World Book Encyclopedia Volume D (1982:134) a detective story is defined as:

A work f fiction about a puzzling crime and a number of clues,

and a detective solves the mystery. In most detective stories, the

crime is murder and the clues lead to or away from the solution.

In detective stories, the author present the crime in the beginning of the narrative and then

introduces the suspects and several clues. The detective then investigate the crime. In their

investigation, they follow the clues that may eventually lead to the culprits being caught.

When defining a detective story, in the Encyclopedia Britannica (1992:39) Volume 4, it is

state that:
 Page2

The detective story is a type of popular literature dealing with the

step-by-step investigation and solution of a crime, usually

murder.

The above definition can help one to distinguish detective stories from other stories because

their principal action concerns the attempt by a specialist investigator to solve a crime and

to bring the criminal to justice. It is also important to mention that detective stories consist

of two stories: the diegetic story (investigation) and the metadiegetic story (the hidden story

of the crime). Other genres deal with one single story.

In addition to this, Walker and Frazer (1990:5-6) say:

The plots of detective stories are obsessed with "plotting" in two

senses : the narrative sequence that the detective constructs,

and the plans and conspiracies that may have produced the

crime.

The extract above is simply referring to the story of the investigation and the hidden story of

the crime, also known as the diegetic story. The other story is the story which is narrated.

Such a story is capable of great elaboration and explanation. When finished, it should be

complete in itself. It is therefore important to bring together the two stories throughout the

narrative. This is done by allowing a bit, here and there, of the hidden story to appear.

However, it should be borne in mind that a detective story is a story that unfolds the events

from the beginning to the end.

1.3 METHOD OF RESEARCH

 Page 3

In carrying out research in this study, different approaches will be used. These will include,

among others, contextual, comparative, consultative and structuralist approaches. A brief

note on each approach follows below.

1.3.1 Contextual approach

The word "contextual" is an adjective which comes from the noun "context", meaning facts

or circumstances which surround something. Contextual here refers to the phrases which

are connected with, and accompany a particular passage.

A contextual approach is important in that it enables us to understand the context of the

author's own society and his or her position within it. Hawthorn (1985:131), in commenting

on this approach, says:

Sociological and Marxist critics have placed great stress upon the

need to understand the context of the author, own society and his

or her position within it ....

In other words, contextualizing information in the literary work is needed as Hawthorn (1985)

has indicated above. Therefore, the parts of a piece of writing, a speech which surrounds

a word or passage and which influences or helps to explain its meaning, will be quoted in this

research.

Furthermore, the following extract in the Encyclopedia Britannica Volume 25 (1992:695) can

help to shed light on the significance of context:

Contextualism holds that the work of art should always be

apprehended in its context or setting and that knowledge of it is

 Page4

much richer if it is approached with this knowledge of contex-

tualising.

Raselekoane (1987:29) says the following about the contextual method:

This is the device of suggesting character by the verbal context

that surrounds the character. The way each character reacts to

situations as outlined by the author tells the reader more about

the character's personality.

The personalities of characters are revealed by their conversation with other characters as

well as through their action. Therefore, context enables us to know more about the

characters, setting and plot.

1.3.2 Comparative approach

This is a method of approach in literature which was developed in the course of the 191h

century for the reconstruction of Proto-Inda-European and was subsequently applied to the

study of other language families.

This approach is an investigative approach based on comparison. Therefore, the similarities

and dissimilarities are investigated. This is done by simultaneous examination of two or

more items. The main purpose of examining those items is to reveal likeness or unlikeness

between or among them.

In literary works, this approach is appropriate because it entails a study of various works in

relation to each other which have a striking common resemblance. Swanepoel (1982:2)

comments as follows on the possibility and validity of the comparative method:

 Pages

... genres can be compared within literature, within one single

oeuvre, between two, three, or five writers within specific periods,

within overriding thematic trends, with related literature.

This approach is the most important method of research pertinent to the

literary appreciation of the two detective novels, as they bear a number of similarities.

Furthermore, Prawer (1973: 169) writes the following about the comparative approach.

The comparative approach is an effective method through which

one can trace the movement and transformation of ideas, while

at the same time widening the narrow experiences to which our

existence in space and time condemn us by opening up for our

emotional and intellectual enrichment, a vast storehouse of

imaginative experience.

It can be noted from the above quote that this method can be used to unmask the similarities

and dissimilarities with regard to imaginative experience between the two detective novels

in this research.

Daiches (1981:251) sees the comparative method as:

... device for establishing degrees of excellence ... , which aims at

giving many marks to each work and placing it in a scale cannot

go very far without having broughttogether the works in question

 Page6

with other works showing the same sort of thing, better or worse

done, and by showing this, helping the reader to see how

excellence is attained.

The different elements of fiction being researched will be compared in order to see the

likeness and unlikeness among them with reference to the two selected detective stories.

Then an indication will be made as to which author best handles the elements of detective

story in his narrative.

1.3.3 Consultative approach

The Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English (1987:219) defines the word "consultative"

as: "that which can give advice or make suggestion".

The term comes from the verb "consult" which means to go to (a book, a person with special

knowledge) for information or professional advice. This method will be useful in obtaining

and collecting information from authoritative persons who have theoretical and practical

experience of crimes, murder, rape and kidnapping cases, such as social workers,

magistrates and detectives.

The research will be on how crimes are investigated in relation to the two afore-mentioned

detective novels. The information obtained from consultation with the above-mentioned

personalities will be compared with the information in the two detective novels.

1.3.4 Structuralist approach

The term structuralist comes from the work "structure" which the Longman Dictionary of

Contemporary English (1987:1050) defines as:

 Page 7

An arrangement or organization, the way in which parts are

formed into a whole or something formed of many parts,

especially a building.

Therefore, structuralists are concerned with an arrangement or organization of something.

This method of study places particular importance on the relationship and patterns of

organization that lie below what seems to be the surface, especially in social science.

The World Book Encyclopedia L Volume 12 (1982:95) defines structuralism as:

A method of study that examines the relationship between

things, rather than simple things themselves.

Following the above quote, literary works are made up of a number of elements such as

theme, plot, conflict, setting, and characterisation. These elements are mutually

interdependent in such a way that they cannot be separate. This approach will be of great

significance in trying to see the structural patterns of literary works with a view to indicating

the integration and relationship that exist among the elements of fiction.

1.4 DETECTIVE NOVELS IN TSHIVENPA

"
There are very few detective novels n Tshivenda. Up to the present time, only two novels,
,
namely, Bono Ja mboni and Nwana wa mme anga belong to this genre. If one examines the

history of Vhavenda, a variety of factors have clearly contributed to the scarcity of detective

novels. Apartheid played a major role. In the past, most police-men and detectives in

particular were Whites, and Blacks only started to train as police detectives relatively

recently. As a result, it was very difficult for Black authors to write detective novels because

there were few Blacks with detective experience. They did not have enough experience in
 Page 8

as far as matters of crime were concerned. In other words, authors did not have access to

information about crime.

Another reason for the low number of detective novels in Tshivenda was the fact that Venda

was characterised by a high moral standard. The rate of crime among Vhavenda was low.

Generally, only senior members (chiefs and traditional healers) were responsible for

committing crime which warranted investigation.

Chiefs and traditional healers used to kill people to fulfill their traditional customs. As senior

members of society, their crimes were never investigated. Ordinary people and the

policemen as well were oppressed by those in higher authority. This oppression made it

difficult for the policemen to investigate their seniors as they would suddenly lose their jobs

if any kind of criminal activity was exposed. Hence, authors did not touch this field of

creative writing. Crime matters are settled in courts by senior members of a tribe. As a

result, information about crime was not accessible to authors. Self-censorship also played

a dominant role. Venda rulers were historically dictators and their subjects had to show full

reverence to them. Their authority knew no boundaries and has always been

unquestionable. If one opposes or differs with the king, this would mean eviction from the

society or worse still, a mysterious disappearance. No one would dare to enquire about the

whereabouts of such a person. All these factors hindered the development of detective

novels.

Detective novels are not truly indigenous to the Venda traditional way of life. In contrast,

detective stories development rapidly in countries like England, France and America.

Detective stories tend to be associated with democracy. Unless a society is democratic and

its rulers accept democratic principles, the authors will always be faced with censorship.
 Page 9

With the introduction of the Western way of life, the alarming increase in the crime rate is

providing authors of detective novels with more material, as well as better detective skills.

The World Book Encyclopedia L Volume 12 (1982:309) states:

Fiction is writing that an author creates from his imagination. He

may include facts about real persons or real events, but he

combines these facts with imaginary situations.

This means that fiction is not a real thing. It is a rendition of what the author thinks and sees

in life and of what he encounters in his real-life situation. Everything that an author comes

across in real-life can influence him or her to create fiction. The increase in the crime rate

in a country may influence authors to write detective fiction.

Modern technology such as radio and television has also had a tremendous influence on the

emergence of detective novels, because detective stories and films are shown. As a result,

authors are starting to imitate and create their own detective stories. Therefore, more

knowledge about crime has been acquired and many more books have been written which

deal with the detection of crimes, especially by our White counter-parts. The TshivenQa

fiction writers then emulated and started to write this type of novel. In 1974, Mphaphuli

produced his book called Nwana wa mme anga, and in 1989, Mahamba wrote Bono la

mboni.

There are novels in Tshivenda which have elements of a detective story but which do not fit

properly into this genre. Novels like U tshila ndi u vhona, by R N MaQadzhe, Maambiwa ndi

one by E S Madima and Mtsheto ya wa by A W Magau are examples of detective novels.

However, they are more social novels than detective novels. Only Bono la mboni and
 Page 10

Nwana wa mme anga can be categorized as real detective novels.

1.5 BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT THE AUTHORS

1.5.1 S N Mahamba

Nnditsheni Sampson Mahamba was born on 25 February 1957 in Khubvi village in the

Sibasa district today known as Greater Thohoyandou. He is the last born in Mahamba's

family. He started schooling at Khubvi Primary School in 1967 when he was ten years old.

In 1973, he passed standard 6. From there, he proceeded with his secondary education at

Tshivhase High, where he passed standard 8. He matriculated at Mukula High School in

1980.

In 1981 and 1982, he went for theological training at Butterworth Esderbrook in Transkei.

He later became an energetic and dynamic young pastor and married Princess Rendani

Ravhura of Makonde. They are blessed with three children, two sons and a daughter.

From 1988 until 1990, Nnditsheni Sampson Mahamba was appointed secretary for the Trans

Orange Conference. From 1991 until today he has been Bishop in President of the Seventh

Day Adventists. He is presently pastoring in the Gauteng Province, that is Johannesburg

and its outlying areas. Mahamba has written three books, one short story and two novels.

Short story : Matungu : 1984

Novels : Dengelele la khanyo : 1989

Bono la mboni : 1989

·\
 Page 11

Mahamba is a prominent Tshivenda writer who draws heavily on his pastoral background for

the Christianity themes in his novels.

1.5.2 N M Mphaphuli

Nkhelebeni Milton Mphaphuli was born on 31 March 1945. He is the son of Joseph Cawood

Mphaphuli and Sara Mususumeli of Mbilwi Mukhondweni. Tkhelebeni is their last born.

He attended junior primary school at Makwarela where after he went to do his senior primary

education at Phaswana. He then completed his junior secondary education at Mphaphuli

High. Thereafter, he completed his higher primary diploma at Vendaland Training Institute

where he managed to complete his standard 10 while working as a teacher.

From 1966 until 1969, he taught at Hatshikonelo and from 1970 to 1979 he taught at

Phaswana School. He completed his first novel Nwana wa mme anga while teaching at

Phaswana School. In 1979, he became principal of Mbilwi Higher Primary School at

Makanga.

Mphaphuli is a novelist as well as radio drama writer. Just recently, he completed his radio

drama known as ''.ZWE NOE ND/ /TE" and a novel "U 90 ZWI DIVHA NGAN/?". Nkhelebeni

Milton Mphaphuli is a promising Tshivenda writer.

1.6 SUMMARIES OF SELECTED NOVELS

1.6.1 Bono la mboni

.~

Thizwilondi is the daughter of Elijah and Eveline Silidzhi. She is a spoilt child. Thizwilondi

has a number of boyfriends, Roberto Fingo, Thomas Everson and Gilbert Tshirwa. She is

killed by her boyfriends because of her unfaithfulness. This happens at the music festival
 Page 12

which was held at Thohoyandou stadium where a great singer, Eddie William from America,
A I'

came to perform.

Thizwilondi's body is found lying next to Tshiseluselu community hall. Thizwilondi's parents

are deeply hurt by her death. An investigation about circumstances surrounding her death

is conducted by the detectives in order to trace the culprits. They discover an empty box of

matches with the abbreviation R T G written on it. Doctor Le Roux of Siloam Hospital

conducts a postmortem. The result of the post-mortem reveals that her death was caused

by a number of factors: she was first raped, strangled and then burnt. An empty box of

matches helps the policemen to track down the culprits and they are eventually arrested.

One the day of the trial, the witnesses (Elijah Silidzhi, Ntshengedzeni, Martha Mauda) give

conflicting evidence which leads to the acquittal of the criminals. Richard, Thizwilondi's child,

is very angry about his mother's death. He later decides to kill Fingo, whom he suspects of

murdering his mother. Fingo then hunts down Richard in order to kill him and destroy the

evidence. Unfortunately, instead of killing him, he accidentally kills Nndanduleni Ratshali

who is Thizwilondi's uncle. Fingo is arrested for killing Nndanduleni Ratshali. He reveals

that, together with Thomas Everson and Gilbert Tshirwa, he did in fact kill Thizwilondi. For

killing Nndanduleni Ratshali, Fingo is sentenced to life imprisonment.

1.6.2 Nwana wa mme anga

Mafangambiti stays with his wife Mususumeli in Messina at Nancefield Location. They have

another house at Shayandima Location which they use during holidays. They have two

children who are twins, a boy Fhatuwani, and a girl, Julie. These children are spoilt. They

get everything they want because their parents are wealthy. Despite this, they decide to

leave their parents and fend for themselves. Julie and Fhatuwani love each other very

much. Fhatuwani, together with his three friends, is arrested for breaking in and stealing

money from the bank in Thohoyandou. Julie plans with Jack, a criminal, to rescue the four
 Page 13

prisoners. She pretends to love Jack, whereas her real motive is to rescue her twin brother

Fhatuwani.

Julie and Jack kidnap the wife of a judge who stays in Thohoyandou (Muofhe Ndikandafhi)

and Ndifelani's wife Mutshinyani. They are hidden in Julie's father's house at Shayandima.

Julie and Jack threaten and intimidate the policy by ordering them to release the four

prisoners if they want Muofhe and Mutshinyani back. In the meantime, they warn the police

that they are going to kill the two women if they do not release the four prisoners.

The police start to investigate the case seriously. Detective-Sergeant Tshimangadzo

Mavhone finds the abbreviation F H S on Alphonso Fhambanani's necklace. He goes to

Futelela High School to look for information about the abbreviation. He discover that

Alphonso Fhambanani is Fhatuwani, who is Mafangambiti's son.

The school security officer tells Frelimo all what he heard while they were drinking beer.

Frelimo is a member of Faraday Mukhakhisi's criminal gang. Mukhakhisi and his gang take

over the two hijacked women from Julie and Jack. They hold Julie, Jack, Muofhe,

Mutshinyani, and Mafangambiti with his wife hostage. The victims are hidden at Mangwele

Mountain. At that time, the police have come to know all about what is happening and follow

them to the mountain. The police then kill Ganyani Makumbelo, Casanova and Faraday

Mukhakhisi at the mountain. Frelimo, Julie, jack and Muofhe Mutshinyani, Mafangambiti and

his wife Mususumeli are captured by the police.

Julie apologises to her parents for all that she had done. Unfortunately, Fhatuwani, Julie and

Jack are arrested and jailed. Ndikandafhi and Ndifelani rejoice when they are reunited with

their wives.
 Page 14

1. 7 SCOPE OF RESEARCH

Chapter one comprises the aim of the research, the theoretical background of study, the

methods of approach, detective novels in Tshivenda, background information about the

authors, and summaries of selected novels.

Chapter two deals with the plot structure of the two detective novels. Before the analysis

of the essential parts of the plot of the selected novels (i.e the beginning, rising action,

climax and denouement), the diegetic and metadiegetic stories will be discussed. The

elements of mystery and dramatic irony will also receive attention in this chapter.

In chapter three, setting is the focus of our discussion. The main focus will be on the

place and time when the events take place. The characters and their actions will be

analysed in order to show how setting influences them.

The fourth chapter will focus on the way in which the authors portray characters,

especially the victims, murders and detectives.

The final chapter will provide a general conclusion to the whole work which will entail

findings, suggestions and recommendation.

 Page 15

CHAPTER 2

2. PLOT STRUCTURE

2.1 INTRODUCTION

Here, both the selected novels will be analysed, taking into account the way in which the

events are arranged. The techniques of mystery and dramatic irony will receive attention in

this regard. Before analysing plot structure in the two selected novels, a brief analysis of two

types of detective stories i.e diegetic and metadiegetic stories, will be handled because they

form an important part of the detective story.

2.2 TYPES OF STORIES IN DETECTIVE NOVEL

Most detective novels have two stories. They contain the story of crime and the story of

investigation. This is supported by Walker and Frazer (1990:5-6) who state:

Detective stories are obsessed with "plotting" in two senses : the

narrative sequence that the detective constructs, and the plans

and conspiracies that may have produced the crime.

This means that in a detective novel, there are two types of stories, namely : the story of

investigation, also known as the "diegetic story" which is created by the detective and the

story that concerns the crime, which is known as the "metadiegetic story". Hereunder follows

a brief discussion of these types of stories.

2.2.1 Metadiegetic story

The metadiegetic story is the story that concerns the crime. The author discloses what

happened in the story. It could be a crime of murder, kidnapping or rape. This type of crime

is set at the beginning of the detective story as a problem which needs to be investigated.
 Page 16

The Journal (1820 Foundation: 2), when commenting on the detective story, states that:

Writers of detective stories make up stories about crime, usually

the crime of murder.

The above quotation suggests that a detective story has a story of crime. This story reveals

how the crime happened and why it happened, the characters who committed the crime and

how they are brought to justice. In other words, through this story we know all the plans of

the culprits as well as their moves from the start until they are arrested.

Cawelti (1976:81) says:

The significance of these crimes is proportional to the elaborate

parade of mystification and inquiry that the detective story must

generate.

Cawelti expresses the idea that the crime that has been committed is part of a very detailed

and complicated event of mystery. In other words, a crime that the author introduces at the

beginning of a detective story is a mystery in itself. This problem needs a specialist sleuth

to solve it.

A brief summary of the metadiegetic stories in both the selected detective novels follows

below.

2.2.1.1 Bono la mboni

Thizwilondi is in love with Roberto Fingo, Thomas Everson and Gilbert Tshirwa who are

friends. Seeing that Thizwilondi has fallen in love with Eddie Williams, her boyfriends decide
 Page 17

to kill her after the music festival at Thohoyandou stadium. They take her via a lounge bar.

On their way home, Thizwilondi's boyfriends force her out of the car.

It is dark and a thunderstorm is raging outside. In that thick darkness, Thizwilondi is raped,

strangled and burnt to death. The naked corpse of Thizwilondi is put near Tshiseluselu

Community Hall. Her clothes are laid on the low wall of the hall. The criminals leave the

corpse there and disperse. As Thomas Everson's hand is burnt, his friends accompany him

to Elim Hospital. On the following day, Thizwilondi's parents start to look for her high and

low, but to no avail. No one in the family knows her where abouts. Everyone at home is

confused and worried by her disappearance. All the members of the family are stricken by

great fear. Thizwilondi's corpse is discovered by the people on the following day. The police

and the community at large are extremely shocked by the mysterious death of Thizwilondi.

Her death creates a problem which needs to be solved. What causes this is that her

murderers are not known.

From there, the culprits engaged in clandestine activities in an attempt to conceal the crime

they have committed by bribing the witnesses and prosecutor Dick Marvin. This comprises

the metadiegetic story, because is has to do with crime.

2.2.1.2 Nwana wa mme anga

Julie's twin brother is arrested for an attempted bank robbery. He is locked up in jail together

with his friends. His arrest makes Julie extremely upset. Together with Jack, Julie struggles

to have her twin brother released.

Jack and Julie kidnap Muofhe Ndikandafhi and Mutshinyani Ndifelani near Raluswielo

Secondary School. The two women are hidden in one of the Mafangambiti's old house at

Shayandima. Jack contacts the policy by telephone, making an anonymous phone call,
 Page 18

which greatly shocks the police. They refuse to follow what they are being ordered to do.

The disappearance of Muofhe and Mutshinyani strikes fear in the hearts of their husbands,

police and the country at large. Their kidnappers are now known. What is more, their

husbands, people and the police do not know the whereabouts of Muofhe and Mutshinyani,

which confuses everyone even more. The kidnapping of Muofhe and Mutshinyani forms the

core of the crime that is committed in this detective story. It is a metadiegetic story because

it concerns the crime of kidnapping. This is a problem that needs to be looked at very

seriously by the police.

2.2.2 Diegetic Story

The diegetic story concerns the investigation of the crime by professional detectives. The

presence of the detective is to try to solve a sophisticated or complicated problem. The

problem is compounded by lack of information.

Mphahlele (1990:40), while commenting on the Whodunit about the diegetic story, says:

... the story of the investigation explains how the reader or the

narrator comes to know about what happened.

This implies that diegetic story is the story of investigation of the crime which has

been committed. Though complicated it may be, detectives try to solve it in order

to bring the situation to normal. In their investigation, they gather evidence and

analyse it. When investigating, they are supplied with a number of overlapping

clues which help to guide them. The clues blaze way for future progress in their

investigation until the final solution of the problem is achieved. The whole

process of investigation ultimately reveals the evil-doers. This type of story starts
 Page 19

after the crime has been committed and ends when the mystery is solved. Porter

(1982:29) says:

The "open" story of the investigation gradually unravels the

"hidden" story of the crime.

This means that the detectives reveal the crime which is hidden through their investigation.

The crime encountered at the beginning of a detective story serves as the beginning of

detection. In other words, metadiegetic and diegetic stories are interdependent. They are

closely-knit in such a way that they cannot be separated, as the metadiegetic story prompts

the diegetic story.

Hereunder follows a brief summary of the diegetic stories in the two selected detective

stories.

2.2.2.1 Bono la mboni

The diegetic story in Bono la mboni begins when detective Muzila and Masutha investigate

the death of Thizwilondi Silidzhi. The detectives discover a burnt corpse, which is

unidentifiable, and a box with the abbreviations R T G written on it. The corpse is later

identified because of the clothes which were found lying next to the hall. The detectives visit

parents and close friends of the deceased in an attempt to identify her killers and find a

motive for her death. Dr Le Roux of Siloam Hospital conducts a postmortem. The results

of the postmortem encourage the detectives to track down the culprits.

At the funeral service of Thizwilondi, police suspect Roberto Fingo and arrest him. The

detectives continue to look for more culprits. They arrest Thomas Everson and Gilbert

Tshirwa with the help of the RT G abbreviation found on the match box that was found at
 Page 20

the scene of the crime.

The suspected culprits are kept in jail for three months without trial. During the trial, the

three culprits are acquitted because they are self-employed. On the day of the second trial,

Ntshengedzeni, Eveline and Martha Mauda present conflicting evidence. The suspects are

found guilty but the sentence is suspended for 10 years.

Richard hunts Roberto Fingo high and low in order to avenge his mother's death. Fingo in

turn hunts Richard in order to kill him, but accidentally kills Nndanduleni Ratshali instead.

He is arrested after Richard reports the case to the police. During the trial, Fingo reveals

all what happened before. Eventually, Thomas Everson and Gilbert Tshirwa are also

arrested. Both of them are charged and found guilty of killing Thizwilondi. This is a diegetic

story because it concerns the investigation of the culprits, their trials and jail terms after

being convicted for crime.

2.2.2.2 Twana wa mme anga

Detective Tshimangadzo Mavhone and Tshihadu detect a mysterious kidnapping of

A

Mutshinyani and Muofhe, who are kidnapped while they are on their way to see a specialist

doctor at Makwarela Location. They are kidnapped by Carole and Jack and are hidden in

Mafangambiti's house at Shayandima. Detective Tshimangadzo informs Mutshinyani's

husband Ndifelani at Thohoyandou Hotel about the disappearance of his wife. They go

together to the police station. Ndikandafhi receives telephone calls from a person who does

not want to identify himself. The calls instruct him to release the four prisoners. The police

refuse to carry out the instruction and begin to track down the criminals.

At Vondwe prison, detective Tshimangadzo Mavhone discovers the F H S abbreviation on

Alphonso Fhambanani's necklace. They go to Futelela High School to investigate. They

 Page 21

discover that Alphonso Fhambanani is the son of Mafangambiti of Messina. Mukhakhisi and

his gang also get involved. The presence of this gang serves as an obstacle for the police

to arrest the culprits. The police and Mukhakhisi's gang meet at Mafangambiti's house in

Messina. Detective Tshihadu is killed with a knife by Frelimo. Mukhakhisi takes

Mafangambiti and his wife to their old house at Shayandima. The police receive another

telephone call which orders them to release the four prisoners. Mukhakhisi's gang captures

the two kidnapped women and their kidnappers and hide them in the cave at Mangwele

mountain.

The police confront Mukhakhisi's gang at Mangwele mountain. A fierce battle ensues

between the police and Mukhakhisi's gang. Mukhakhisi and some of his colleagues are

killed. Others are captured and imprisoned.

The detectives in Bono la mboni investigate the death of a young girl, whereas in Nwana wa

mme anga, the detectives investigate the disappearance of the two kidnapped women. In

conducting their investigation, the close friends of the deceased and her parents are

contacted in Bono la mboni. The prisoners are visited at Vondwe Prison in Nwana wa mme

anga. In Bona la mboni, the detectives track down the criminals with the help of the RT G

abbreviation whereas in Nwana wa mme anga, the detectives detected the criminals with the

help of the F H S abbreviation.

The detectives tried unsuccessfully to convict the criminals, but a minor character succeeded

in tracking down the criminals and convicting them in Bona la mboni. All in all, the criminals

are identified in Bono la mboni whereas in Nwana wa mme anga they never identified

themselves until they are found.

2.3 The Concept plot

 Page 22

A plot is the way in which events are arranged. The events follow one another in a

sequential fashion. A story refers to a sequential arrangement of events in a novel. The

difference between a story and plot lines in the fact that a story is what an author narrates

about and it has a beginning and an end. In a plot, an author can start arranging his/her

events from the middle or from the end of the story. This depends on the aspect he or she

wants to emphasise to the readers.

The concept of plot is defined by Abrams (1993:159) as follows:

The plot in a dramatic or narrative work is constituted by its

events and actions as they are rendered and ordered towards

achieving particular emotional and artistic effects.

This means that events and actions are logically arranged from the beginning of a narrative

to the end. The planned series of connected events make up the story line or create a

coherent structure of the story. An author orders events in a narrative in order to achieve

the goal or purpose in mind. Burnet, as cited by Mafela (1993:65), maintains that:

A plot is what you do with that story. It is your plan or arranging

the events, not necessarily in a time sequence, but in an artistic

sequence .. In a selective sequence.

The artistic sequence incorporates cause and effect. An author arranges his or her events

in the way he likes and not in a chronological order. He or she selects the most important

events that he or she wants to bring to the attention of the readers and starts narrating about

them. In this research, the emphasis will be on the plot structure of a detective story.
 Page 23

Detective fiction has duality. It tells two stories, namely, the story of the crime and the story

of the investigation. In the story of the crime, the author discloses what happened, whereas

the story of investigation presents how the reader has come to know about what happened.

Therefore, in a detective story, we learn about the crime, why it actually happens, the person

who commits a crime and how he or she is punished. This involves detectives investigating

the crime, the procedures that they follow in their investigation and how they identify and

finally arrest the perpetrators.

A plot of a detective story differs from that of an ordinary story in that it is full of mysteries,

suspense and surprise. These are elements of fiction that are seldom found in a ordinary

story.

Hereunder follows an evaluation of the essential elements of plot structure of a detective

story, namely: exposition, rising of action, climax and ending in both selected novels.

2.3.1 The exposition

The exposition involves the provision of background information and introduction of setting,

important characters and problems of the main character. Freytag, as cited by Swanepoel

(1987:8), says:

The characters and the circumstances are introduced.

Information necessary for the building up of tension is

communicated.

The suggests that, the beginning of a detective narrative informs readers about the main

characters of the story and where the story is taking place. The problem of the main characters

is also disclosed in this phase, and in this case crime. Furthermore, Walker and Frazer
 Page 24

(1990:10) maintain that:

The crime itself is presented, from the very beginning, in terms of

discourse.

The above extract means that beginning of a detective novel reflects a crime to solve. It

could be either murder, robbery, kidnapping, or a moral offence. In this phase of a detective

story, the events are stable or static. The concept "static" is defined in the Longman

Dictionary of Contemporary English (1987: 1032) as:

Something, not moving, changing, or developing especially in a

way that is undesirable.

This means that the events in the exposition of a detective story are stable. The crime is set

as a problem to solve. This crime is static and it does not move or develop. It is a problem

that needs a scientific investigator(s) to solve it. The crime that is presented in the

exposition, creates suspense and surprise.

In the beginning of Bono la Mboni, the author informs readers about the background

information of Thizwilondi Silidzhi. Readers know that Thizwilondi leads a corrupt life. The

main characters are also introduced, namely: Thizwilondi, Roberto Fingo, Thomas Everson

and Gilbert Tshirwa. The three men have discovered that all of them are Thizwilondi's

boyfriends and that Thizwilondi has also fallen in love with Eddie Williams during the music

festival at Thohoyandou Stadium. They decide to bring Thizwilondi's life to an end. Indeed,

they kill her mysteriously.

 Page 25

Thizwilondi's death creates a lot of problems for her family and the community at large

because she has been killed mysteriously. No one knows her kil,lers. Her death in this

exposition is static as the question of her killers would only be answered after an

investigation. Thizwilondi's death contributes to the progression of the plot of this detective

nonel.

In the beginning of Nwana wa mme anga, the background information of the main characters

and their problems is given. Setting is also communicated. The events start in the

Thohoyandou area.

Muofhe and Mutshinyani are kidnapped on the road. Julie and Mack Maora are the main

characters in this detective story. Julie's twin brother Fhatuwani is arrested with his three

friends after an attempted bank robbery.

Julie invites Jack Maora, who is a criminal, to assist her in her plan. They arrange to kidnap

the wife of an influential judge in Thohoyandou, Muofhe Ndikandafhi, in order to have

Fhatuwani released from jail.

Muofhe is in fact kidnapped. Mutshinyani, a wife of Ndifelani, is also accidentally kidnapped

with Muofhe. The kidnapping creates problems for their husbands and the community at

large. Nobody knows their whereabouts, hence it is a mysterious kidnapping. This

kidnapping stands as a problem that needs a detective to investigate it.

The events in Bono la mboni begin in Thohoyandou Stadium during the music festival

whereas in Nwana wa mme anga, events begin in the Greater Thohoyandou. The main

characters, Thizwilondi, Roberto Fingo, Thomas Everson and Gilbert Tshirwa are introduced
 Page26

in the exposition of Bono la mboni. In Nwana wa mme anga Julie, Jack Maora and

Fhatuwani, who is later jailed, are introduced in the exposition.

The problem of the main characters is also disclosed in the exposition of Bono la mboni.

Thizwilondi's boyfriends complain about her unfaithfulness. She has just fallen in love with

Eddie Williams. In Nwana wa mme anga, the main character Julie is complaining about her

twin brother who is in jail and she wants to release him from jail.

In order to resolve the problem in Bono la mboni, the three friends (Roberto Fingo, Thomas

Everson and Gilbert Tshirwa) decide to end Thizwilondi's life, whereas in Nwana wa mme

anga, Julie and Jack plan to kidnap the wife of the judge who stays in Thohoyandou in order

to have her twin brother Fhatuwani released from jail.

Thizwilondi is killed by her boyfriends in Bono la mboni because of her unfaithfulness

whereas in Nwana wa mme anga, Muofhe Ndikandafhi and Mutshinyani are kidnapped by

Julie and Jack Maora in order to have Fhatuwani released from jail. A serious look at the

beginning of these two detective stories may lead one to agree that the incidents of

Thizwilondi's murder and that of the kidnapping of Muofhe and Mutshinyani help to generate

detection.

It is noteworthy to observe that there is a remarkable distinction between the exposition of

a detective story and that of an ordinary story. In the exposition of a detective story, the

author introduces a problem to be solved. This may be a murder to solve, robbery or moral

offence which needs police detection. Suspense and surprise are generated by the crime.

The exposition of an ordinary story does not start with a crime that needs to be solved.
 Page 27

The event of the death of Thizwilondi is part of the rising action. The author starts his plot

by this incident because it helps to generate the plot of this detective story. Mphaphuli

delays the incident of the kidnapping of Muofhe and Mutshinyani. Instead of presenting it in

Chapter 1, he does that in Chapter 2. The reason for the delay in that in Chapter 2, he

explains the background information of the main character.

2.3.2 The rising action

Swanepoel (1992:8) says the following about the rising action:

Each incident, each scene contributes to the enlargement of the

problem to the coming of an unavoidable moment of decision.

This means that, in the rising of a detective story, the incidents are interlinked in that each

incident brings another incident and the other incident brings another until the story comes

to a climax.

The World Book Encyclopedia (1982:269) states that the rising action involves: "discoveries

and decisions that change the course of action".

The above quote is in line with the rising action of a detective story because in the rising

action police are seen struggling to track down the perpetrators. In their investigation, the

police discover additional crimes and they follow certain procedures and clues. This phase

in detective story is active since readers come across the detectives in their search for the

culprits. On the other hand the culprits try to hide themselves. This makes it difficult for the

detective to trace the criminals. The tactics of the criminals complicate the rising action. As

the actions become more tense, a climax is reached. Thus the rising action of a detective

story becomes active.

 Page 28

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English (1987:9) defines the word active as "doing

things or able to take action". This means that the rising action of a detective story consists

of gathering evidence relating to the crime. The crime that has been committed at the

beginning of the story is now detected. It is through the activities of the detectives that the

rising action becomes active. In addition to the above definition, Mphahlele (1990:4) says:

The middle part of the narrative consists of collecting

the evidence relating to the crime and it is usually active.

Mphahlele want to indicate that the rising action of a detective story consists of gathering of evidence

relating to the crime which is committed at the beginning of a detective story. The work of

investigation is done by the detectives with the help of the people that have evidence of the crime.

Here, the author describes moves made by the investigator as he or she follows clues like a hunter

stalking his prey. This causes readers to anticipate the murderers identity and their motive for killing

their victim(s).

In Bono la mboni, the rising action starts to take shape when detectives come to the spot where

Thizwilondi has been killed. They discover a burnt corpse which is unidentifiable and a box of

matches with the initials R T G written on it. The box of matches helps the police to track down the

perpetrators. The following strategies are used by the detective while they are tracking down the

culprits:

Detectives Nedzamba suggests paying a visit to the close friends of the deceased. Thizwilondi's

friend could be known through contact with her parents. The detectives do in fact visit Thizwilondi's

parents. They discover that Thizwilondi used to go out with a colored man, Roberto Fingo. From

there, the police suspect Fingo at the funeral service of Thizwilondi and arrest him. Before this
 Page 29

accident, the corpse of the deceased is inspected by Doctor Le Roux of Siloam Hospital. The box

of matches with R T G written on it and the results of the postmortem and the fire helped the

detective in their investigation.

Mahamba (1989:15-16) has this to say:

Mapholisa vhone vha na wavho-vho mushumo. Vhone vha khou

todisesa uri vha wane tsho Alaho muthu. Tshine vha tshi takalela

ndi gwangwa la mulilo le vha u wana wo wela ntha ha guvha la

holo ngauri vha divha uri ngalo vha tea u do wana minwe ya

vhavhulahi. Tshinwe tshine tshi si vhe tshithu zwatsho, ndi

maledere R T G o nwalwaho kha bogisi iii la mulilo.

(The police have their duty as well. They are busy investigating

in order to get the culprits. They are happy to find an empty box

of matches on the low wall of the hall. They know that with the

help of that box, they would get the fingerprints of the culprits.

Another important thing is the abbreviations R T G written on the

box).

Detectives trace the criminals with the help of the R T G abbreviations which are written on

the box of matches. From here, the action of investigation develops and becomes more

complicated.

At the funeral, police suspect Roberto Fingo and they finally arrest him. The detectives

continue to look for more culprits. They arrest Thomas Everson and Gilbert Tshirwa with the
 Page 30

help of RT G abbreviations. The burnt hand of Everson which is bandaged makes the police

suspicious and arrest him. The culprits are tried in court and are given free bail.

After the release of the three suspects, they do not sit and wait for the final trial. They wordk

very hard to win the case. The suspects use a lot of money. They also bribe prosecutor Dirk

Marvin by giving him R20 000 to twist the case during the trial.

Apart from this, Fingo's car is decorated and glasses are tinted so that they could not be seen

by people when they go to visit Silidzhi's family. John Makumbe is also bribed because he

witnessed the plan for murdering Thizwilondi Silidzhi. The suspects bribe the people with the

intention that they might give conflicting evidence during the trial. The incident of bribery

complicates the rising action of this detective novel.

On the other hand, Gilbert Tshirwa falls in love with Ntshengedzeni (Thizwilondi's sister) in

order to win her heart and that of her mother so that they could defend him during the trial.

Gilbert Tshirwa, in Mahamba (1989:70), while speaking to Ntshengedzeni, says:

Zwino Ntshenge, danu mmbudza-vho hafha arali nga ngoho ni tshi

mpfuna ni ambe ngoho yanu. Arali mafhungo ane nda vha khao

a fhela ndo pfi ndi na mulandu nda valelwa, ni do nndindela?

(Now tell me Ntshenge, if you truly love me, tell me the truth. If

I am found guilty in this murder case and locked up in jail, are

you going to wait for me?)

From the dialogue between Gilbert and Ntshengedzeni, one can deduce that Gilbert
 Page 31

is pretending to be in love with Ntshengedzeni. However, Gilbert did not genuinely

love Ntshengedzeni. Since Gilbert is accepted by Eveline as her son-in-law, Eveline

and her daughter work out plans that would lead to Gilbert's acquittal. All these tactics

by the criminals complicate the whole action. On the day of the trial, Ntshengedzeni,

Eveline and Martha Mauda give conflicting evidence. The culprits are not found guilty

of murdering Thizwilondi. The acquittal of the criminals indicate the failure of the police

in their detection of criminals.

The acquittal of the three suspects hurt Richard, Thizwilondi's son, very deeply. He

tracks down the criminals by himself. He uses the strategy of intimidation, which is

apparent when he meets Fingo at Thohoyandou Hotel in the toilet. Richard intimidates

Fingo as if hy wants to kill him. In Mahamba (1989:92) Richard says this to Fingo:

"Namusi ni a fa, goya ndi inwi!" Richard o ralo o ima tsini

na Fingo, o mu sumba thumbu nga tshila tshithu !she a

vha o fara.

(You will die today, you wild cat!" Richard said while

standing next to Fingo, pointing at his stomach with the

object he was holding).

From the above extract one can deduce that Richard wants to kill Fingo to avenge his

mother's death. Unfortunately, he fails to kill him because of the lengthy conversation. In

turn, Fingo hunts down Richard in order to kill him. Richard is not aware of Fingo's intention.

Fingo kills Richard's uncle Nndanduleni Ratshali accidentally instead of Richard. The action

becomes more complicated, and this moves the events towards the climax.
 Page 32

In Nwana wa mme anga, the rising action begins immediately after the kidnapping of Muofhe

Ndikandafhi and Mutshinyani Ndifelani. As a result conflict begins to develop between

Carole and the police. Carole and Jack order the police to release the four prisoners who

are at Vondwe prison. The police refuse to carry out these instructions and start with their

investigation.

The police receive several telephone calls instructing them to release the four prisoners.

This strategy is used by the criminals to confuse the police in their detection. Moreover, the

person, who is phoning does not identify himself. This also serves as a tactic used by the

criminals to confuse the detectives so that they could not identify them. Despite the calls

ordering them to release the prisoners, the police do not give up in tracking down the

criminals. In his conversation with Ndifelani, Ndikandafhi says:

NRe sa muhatuli wa fhano doroboni ya Jhohoyanqou khathihi na

Vho-Tshibuleni vhane vha vha muhulwane wa afha mapholisani,

a ri koni uri vhukati hashu ra mbo di bvisa la uri hu itwe zwifhio

kha khombo yo bvelelaho. Ra ralo ri do vha ro dzhia mulayo ra

u fara nga zwanda zwashu. Ndi tshi ralo a si uri ndi na manwe

maano. Hai, ndi ralo uri ri !home milingo yashu ri tshi divha zwine

ra kona na zwane ra si kone (Mphaphuli, 1974:16-17).

(I, as a judge of Thohoyandou and the station commander

Tshibuleni cannot say what must be done with regard to this

problem. If we do that, we will be taking the law into our hands.

But, this does not mean that I have any idea. No, I am saying
 Page 33

this so that we can start our investigations knowing what we can

do and what we cannot do).

Indeed, the police start with their investigation in order to apprehend the culprits.

The following steps are taken by the police:

(i) Detective sergeant Tshibangadzo Mavhone goes to take Ndifelani from the

hotel to the police station where after he is informed about the kidnapping.

(ii) Detective Tshimangadzo Mavhone also goes to Vondwe prison to see the four

prisoners. He discovers F H S abbreviations on Alphonso Fhambanani's

necklace.

The abbreviation gives the detectives a useful clue. The police go to Futelela High School

to find out if Alphonso has ever been a pupil there. They discover that Alphonso

Fhambanani is Fhatuwani, the son of Mafangambiti of Messina. While the police are busy
"
with their investigation, Mukhakhisi and his gang intervene.

The intervention of Mukhakhisi and his gang could be identified as an obstacle for the police

because the incident leads to the complication of the problem. The rising action becomes

more complicated when detective Tshihadu is killed by Frelimo, one of Mukhakhisi's gang,

in Messina. Faraday Mukhakhisi and his gang take Mafangambiti and his wife to their old

house at Shayandima.

They capture the two kidnapped women and their kidnappers. The type of transport used
 Page 34

by the criminal needs to be taken into account. Jack and Carole are in a Mazda car with a

canopy without windows when they kidnap the two women. When going to phone the police,

Jack uses a Fiat car. The changing of the means transport by the criminals is a tactic to

avoid being noticed by the police and the people at large. This incident also complicates the

rising action.

The situations becomes more tense. Mukhakhisi hide the two women and their kidnappers

at Mangwele mountain. While all this is happening, the detectives are after them. The

arrival of the police pushes the situation towards a climax.

In Bona la mboni, the detectives investigate a murder case of Thizwilondi Silidzhi who as

killed by her boyfriends. In Nwana wa mme anga, the detectives investigate a kidnapping

case. Julie and Jack kidnap the two women, Muofhe and Mutshinyani. They want to have

Julie's twin brother, Fhatuwani, released from jail.

The detective in Bona la mboni detects criminals with the help of the abbreviations RT G.

In Nwana wa mme anga, after the two women are kidnapped, detective Tshimangadzo

Mavhone finds a necklace with F HS engraved on it, which helps them to trace the criminals.

In both cases, abbreviations are used to solve the problem.

Fingo's car is used by the criminals in Bono la mboni. When the situation becomes more

tense, the car is decorated and glasses are tinted to avoid being noticed by the police. In

Nwana wa mme anga, several types of cars are used by the criminals to avoid being noticed

by the police. A Mazda and Fiat cars are used.

In Bona la mboni, the detectives fail in their detection of the criminals. Richard steps in to
 Page 35

investigate the case by himself. Though one of the detectives, Tshihadu, is killed during the

investigation in Nwana wa mme anga, the detectives never give up.

One group of criminals (ie Fingo, Everson and Gilbert) operate in Bona la mboniwhereas in

Nwana wa mme anga, two gangs of criminals operate ie Carole and Jack on the one hand

and Mukhakhisi's gang on the other hand.

In this respect, Mahamba fails to handle the rising action in a successful way because the

criminals were tracked down but there was not enough evidence to convict them. Mphaphuli,

on the other hand, handles this in a more successful way in Nwana wa mme anga, as

criminals were tracked down and convicted as well.

2.3.3 Climax

A climax is a point where the action comes to a breaking point. It is the physical and

emotional high point in the story. Swanepoel et al (1987:8) define climax as follows:

This is the invisible eruption, the breaking point, the pinnacle of

tension, the phase of final decision. A change sets in which

decides the lives and interests of the characters involved.

In other words, the climax is the point of interest or suspense in a story or play. It is the

moment when the outcome of the conflict suddenly becomes clear. This phase is

characterised by death, wars and fierce fighting. The forces in conflict reaches their moment

of highest concentration and tension.

The narration of stories differs from one story to the other. Some stories begin from the
 Page 36

middle or end and proceed towards the beginning and came to the climax or resolution.

Most of the climaxes of detective stories come when the detectives reveal the criminal and

tell how the mystery is solved.

In Bona la mboni, the climax is reached when Roberto Fingo is arrested after killing

Nndanduleni Ratshali. Richard reports the case to the police. The police hide next to

Fingo's flat in order to arrest him. Fingo is arrested unexpectedly. In Mahamba (1989:96),

the police say:

"Pholisa!" lpfi Ii tshi ralo la vha Ii tshi amba henefha tshitikoni

tsha Fingo, la dovha le, "u tou posa hanu liga, ndi u fa hanu.

Dinekedzeni!"

("Police!" the voice came from behind Fingo, and further

says, "if you take one step forward,you die. Just surrender!'?.

From this quote we learn that Fingo is about to be arrested. The police disarm and handcuff

him. They take him to the police station. Suspense is created as one wants to know

whether Fingo will hide or disclose his criminal activity. A moment of high tension is created

once more when Fingo does not want to speak the truth when he is requested to do so by

the police. One may sympathise with him when he conceals the truth. The police are not

going to leave him as he is. He deserves to be punished heavily.

Fingo o rwiwa u swika thoho yawe i si tsha nga yo dzula kha

mutsinga u re na marambo, i tshi vho sokou, lembwe,

lembwe, lembwe, i tshi wela hothe-hothe. Khedzi ila yo vha

 Page 37

i tshi vho sokou tatata ... , i yone ya dovha ya pwa~aa .... , izwo

hu musti Fingo a tshi femela nnda kana ngomu. (Mahamba,

1987:98).

(Fingo was bitten until his head felt like it was resting on a

boneless neck. It was shaking in all directions. That bag

was enlarging excessively... , again it move back... , that was

when Fingo was exhaling and inhaling).

This is really a turmoil which Roberto Fingo is facing. The detectives put Fingo's head in a

wet bag and then punch him until his head got dislodged from its neck. As a reader, one is

interested to know whether Fingo will hide the information under this terrible and hard

condition. He has been beaten up in such a way that he cannot do anything. Finally, Fingo

discloses that he was with Everson and Gilbert when he killed Thizwilondi. That leads to the

arrest of Thomas Everson and Gilbert Tshirwa. It is Ratshali's death that leads to the arrest

of the three perpetrators. The mystery that is encountered at the beginning of the story is

solved when the criminals are caught and reveal their secret. We now encounter a normal

situation in the lives of the characters. The investigation then comes to a halt as there are

no other crimes to be traced.

In Nwana wa mme anga, the highest and most important point towards which the chain of

events in the rising action has been moving is when the detectives confront Mukhakhisi's

gang at Mangwele mountain in the cave. A fierce battle ensues between the police and

Mukhakhisi's gang. Mphaphuli (1974:76) says:

Vho-Mavhone vho dzumbama henefho vha bvisa tsha u

 Page 38

dzimula muungo tshikwamani. Vha tshi toma mulomoni wa

tshigidi tshavho.

(While Mavhone was hiding there, he took out the silencer

from the pocket and put it on the mouth of the gun).

The extract indicates that detective Mavhone is ready to fight or shoot. When readers hear

this, their interest is aroused. They anticipate what will follow. There is nothing else to follow

except shooting.

Firstly, Mavhone kills Ganyani Makumbelo, one of Mukhaksisi's gang. Detective Mavhone

takes Ganyani's jacket, balaclava hood and wears them so that he could not be noticed by

other criminal. Detective Mavhone regards this as a fight for life and death. The detectives

go further until they reach the top of the mountain. Gasanova Mudzangunye is also killed

while he is on the way to the river to fetch some water. His clothes are taken by another

detective who is accompanying Mavhone.

Detective Mavhone enters the cave carrying a basket with his hand. The criminals do not

notice him. Mukhakhisi is killed meanwhile Frelimo, Julie and Jack, are arrested. Now that

the criminals have been identified and arrested, there is no need for further investigation.

The criminals are to be punished. The two kidnapped women, Muofhe and Mutshinyani are

found. The defeat of Mukhakhisi's gang helps the detectives to arrest the criminals. The

mystery of the kidnapped two women is solved as the victims are found. A stable and

normal situation in the community is expected. From here, we move towards the end of the

narration.
 Page 39

In Bona la Mboni, the climax is reached when Roberto Fingo kills Richard's uncle

Nndanduleni Ratshali, whereas in Nwana wa mme anga the climax is reached when the

detectives fight Mukhakhisi's gang with guns at Mangwele mountain.

After the death of Ratshali, the two suspects (Thomas Everson and Gilbert Tshirwa) are

arrested. In Nwana wa mme anga, the two kidnapped women, together with Julie, Jack and

Frelimo are captured and arrested by the police.

A criminal kills Nndanduleni Ratshali in Bono la mboni, whereas in Nwana wa mme anga,

the detectives kill a number of criminals in the cave. In both detective stories, guns are used.

The Perpetrator, Roberto Fingo, does not retaliate when the police arrest him in Bono la

Mboni. Frelimo in Nwana wa mme anga tries to fight with the police but to no avail. In both

selected detective stories, perpetrators are arrested by the detectives.

One criminal is killed in the climax of Bono la Mboni, whereas three criminals are killed in the

climax of Nwana wa mme anga.

2.3.4 The ending

The ending is the point at which the conflict in a literary work is resolved. It comes

immediately after the climax when all conflicts in a narrative or dramatic work aan resolved

or mitigated. Mafela (1993:97) says:

The resolution is therefore the end of the conflict in a

particular plot. In this part of the story, sometimes the author

explains or unravels what has happened up to the climax.

 Page 40

In the ending of Bono AIa mbonithe three criminals, Roberto Fingo, Thomas Everson and

Gilbert Tshirwa are arrested by the police. In Nwana wa mme anga, Frelimo, Julie and

Jack are captured and arrested in the ending of this detective story. Mukhakhisi is killed

in the cave. The death of Mukhakhisi and the arrest of the criminals bring the problem

to a conclusion. The docket is closed because there is to other crime to be investigated.

Thomas Everson and Gilbert Tshirwa are sentenced to 15 years in jail and Fingo is

sentenced for life imprisonment in Bono ~a mboni, whereas in Nwana wa mme anga, Julie

pleads before her parents for the wrong she has done. At the end of both detective

stories, the criminals are arrested. All in all, Mahamba and Mphaphuli succeed in bringing

the resolution of the problem in their detective novels, as their stories come to an end

immediately after the climax.

2.4 THE ELEMENT OF MYSTERY

The Oxford Large Print Dictionary (1988:539) defines mystery as:

A matter that remains unexplained or secret.

In detective stories, mystery occurs at the beginning of the narrative and remains

unexplained or secret until it is disclosed or unmasked at the end of the story. Before it

is unmasked, the detective engage themselves in the investigation. The Encyclopedia

Britannica Volume 8 (1992:469) has this to say:

Mystery story-ages-old popular tales dealing with the

unknown, it may be a narrative of horror and terror, a

pseudoscientific fantasy, a crime solving story, .....

Mysteries involve situations which cannot be explained or understood. They are of

 Page 41

course invented stories about crime and murder. Mysterious facts and situations are

sometimes intended to cause a feeling of extreme fear or dislike.

The fact that a detective story begins with a mystery to solve does not mean that in a

detective story, only one mysterious fact or situation is found. We can find plenty of

them which help to develop the main mystery at the beginning of the story.

Mystery plays an important role in a detective story. A detective story is not a detective

story without a mystery to solve. Mystery creates suspense which builds up tension and

excitement in the readers. These elements help to generate and sustain the reader's

interest. Mystery may involve murder, kidnapping, hijacking, suicide, robbery that

threaten society. It may sometimes end in surprise. Once mystery is resolved, it is no

longer a problem to solve because readers come to know all what is secret. The

unraveling of the mystery is reserved until the end of the story.

2.4.1 Mystery in Bono la mboni

In this detective story, mystery can be observed in two ways. The situation surrounding

Thizwilondi's murderers is mysterious. Thizwilondi and her boyfriends go to a music

festival at Thohoyandou Stadium. No single member of the family saw her go to the

music festival. At the music festival, Thizwilondi falls in love with a great singer from

America, Eddie Williams. Thizwilondi's boyfriends, Roberto Fingo, Thomas Everson and

Gilbert Tshirwa plan to kill her because of her unfaithfulness. From that day, Thizwilondi

is never seen again. Her parents do not know her whereabouts. Members of the family

are shocked by her disappearance. Thizwilondi's mother Eveline asks Ntshengedzeni

about Thizwilondi's whereabouts, but no true evidence is ever given. Richard asks where

his mother is, but Eveline beats him up. This is an indication that the whole family is

engulfed by fear and confusion. The mystery of the disappearance of Thizwilondi

intensifies when her body is found by the police and identified by the people near
 Page 42

Tshiseluselu Community Hall. That creates a serious problem for her parents and the

community as they do not know her murderers. Here, suspense is created for the

readers as they want to know who the perpetrators are:

Mahamba (1989:14) has this to say:

Matsheloni aya zwa mudini wa ha Silidzhi a zwo ngo vha zwo

nakaho na khathihi. Musi Richard a tshi tou amba la mme

awe vho faho nga u tou phadzhiwa, makhulu wawe vha

dzhenwa nga zwo vha siaho vha si tsha vha muthu wa

tshithu. Tshiririvha tsho vha faraho tsha vha rwela fhasi vha

sala vha tshi nga mufu. Ndi mafhungo eneo e vha afha

mudini vha si tsha divha uri vha do a kona hani.

Ntshengedzeni o do vha ene o gidimaho u yo vhidza khotsi.

(That morning, things in Silidzhi's family were worse. When

Richard speaks about his deceased mother who was killed,

his grandmother was incredibly shocked. She was caught by

a fever that left her a dead person. It was that news that

made Silidzhi's family not know what to do. Ntshengedzeni

went to call her father).

From the above extract, we learn that Silidzhi's family is mourning the terrible and

untimely death of a member of the family. Her death is unexplained and it shocks

everyone. The incident of the death of Thizwilondi calls for the detective to try and

unravel the mystery. Thizwilondi's death forms the core of this detective story, as the

whole story revolves around it.

 Page 43

On the other hand, as indicated above, Thizwilondi's murderers are mysterious. The plan

made by Thizwilondi's boyfriends to kill her is not known by anyone else except the

murderers themselves. They kill her and disappear. The detectives make a thorough

search for these criminals. The perpetrators bribe John Makumbe as well as Dick Marvin.

They give Dick Marvin R20 000 to defend them during the trial. Apart from that, Gilberts

falls in love with Ntshengedzeni so that she could defend him in court. The three

suspects are twice acquitted from jail. Their acquittal surprises people and, most

importantly, hurts Richard very much. The three suspects were released because of

bribery. Mahamba (1989:101) says:

Ndi nga vhumbulu ha Marvin, he nne nda vho fhedza ndo ri

a !hi na mulandu, na khothe ya kondelwa nga mafhungo a

hone. Dick Marwin, ndi ene we a thusa Vho-Eveline Silidzhi

khathihi na Ntshengedzeni, uri vha shanduksie vhutanzi

havho ha vho fhambana na ha vhanwe.

(It was Marvin's deceit that eventually made me innocent,

and made it difficult for the court to settle that matter. Dick

Marwin was the one who helped Eveline Silidzhi and

Ntshengedzeni to change their testimony to conflict with the

testimonies of others).

In the above extract, Fingo is revealing all what he has done with his friends. Characters

are now aware of Thizwilondi's killers. The suspects are now exposed to the public.

Through Fingo's testimony, the mystery of Thizwilondi's death is resolved. The people

are surprised and shocked when these suspects are revealed. From here, justice takes

its course.
 Page 44

One can conclude that mystery causes suspense and surprise. The mystery of the death

ofThizwilondi creates suspense as the readers are anticipating to know the identity of the

perpetrators who killed her. Once the criminals are revealed people become surprised

because they have all along been waiting to see them.

2.4.2 Mystery in Nwana wa mme anga

In this detective story, mystery is realised in two versions. The kidnapping of Muofhe and

Mutshinyani is mysterious. Jack and Julie kidnap Muofhe and Mutshinyani near

Raluswielo Secondary School while they are on their way to a optometrist. Their

husbands (Ndikandafhi and Ndifelani respectively) and even the police do not their

whereabouts. In Mphaphuli (1974:0) when replying Muofhe, Carole says:

Ndi nga si kone u talutshedza fhano vhukati ha gondo. Nga

lufuno lwa vhutshilo kha vha namele vhuvhili havho. Ndi do

talutshedza nga u dala phanda.

(I cannot explain in detail here on the road. For love of life

you better all get in. I shall explain in full ahead).

Carole says this when kidnapping Muofhe and Mutshinyani. They take them to

Mafangambiti's old house at Shayandima where they lock them up. Tension builds up

among the characters as a result of this. Ndikandafhi and Ndifelani are shocked when

they hear about the disappearance of their wives. The police and people get confused.

This mystery intensifies when detectives receive several calls that instruct them to release

the four prisoners at Vondwe prison. Instead of releasing them, the police go on with

their investigation. Suspense is created when readers are eager to know whether the two

kidnapped women and criminals would be found.

 Page 45

Muofhe and Mutshinyani's kidnappers are mysterious because after they kidnapped

them, Julie an Jack disappeared for a Jong period without being identified. They hide

themselves in Mafangambiti's house at Shayandima Location. The police hunt them

without trace. After a long period, the police get wind of those two suspects and tack

them down until they find them.

The mystery of Muofhe and Mutshinyani's kidnapping is resolved when the police find

them after a fierce with Mukhakhisi's gang. The women are taken back to their

husbands. Now that they have been found the problem is solved and the mystery is

resolved too.

Looking at this aspect of mysterin in both two detective novels, Mahamba uses the

mystery of Thizwilondi's death to develop his plot, whereas Mphaphuli uses the mystery

of the kidnapping of Muofhe and Mutshinyani to develop his plot.

Thizwilondi's mysterious death causes her parents, son, brothers and sisters as well as

the community at large to be confused and not to know what to do with that untimely

death. The members of the family and the community are surprised .. The went to know

the identity of her killers. This causes suspense for the readers. In Nwana wa mme

anga, the mystery of the kidnapping of Muofhe and Mutshinyani surprises the husbands

and the police. Ndifelani and Ndikandafhi are surprised because they have never

experienced criminal activities like this in Venda. The interest of the readers is also

aroused as they wonder why this crime happens and what will happen to the perpetrators

if they are found.

Thizwilondi's murderers are mysterious because they killed her and disappeared for a

long period without being disclosed in Bono la mboni. Muofhe and Mutshinyani's

kidnappers are mysterious because they kidnapped them and disappeared for a long
 Page 46

period until they are found by the detectives.

The mystery in Bono la Mboni is resolved when Thizwilondi's murderers are found after

the death of Nndanduleni Ratshali. In Nwana wa mme anga, the mystery is resolved

when the police recapture the two kidnapped women at Mangwele Mountain.

From the discussion above, it is clear that, mystery causes suspense and surprise in both

two detective novels. In Bono la mboni, mystery intensifies when Thizwilodi's body is

discovered near Tshiseluselu Community Hall whereas in Nwana wa mme anga, the

mystery intensifies when Ndikandafhi receives unanimous telephone calls which instruct

him to release the four prisoners at Vondwe Prison. Mahamba and Mphaphuli handle the

aspect of mystery successfully to develop their plots in their detective stories.

2.5 DRAMATIC IRONY IN THE SELECTED NOVELS

Dramatic irony, a character or group o characters plan to do something bad to a certain

character. Other characters want to inform the victim about the danger to come. The

victim, because of inappropriate knowledge, ignores the danger. As a results, he

eventually gents into trouble. Abrams (1993:99) says:

Dramatic irony involves a situation in a play or a narrative in

which the audience or reader shares with the author

knowledge of present or future circumstances of which a

character is ignorant, in that situation, the character

unknowingly acts in a way we recognize to be grossly

inappropriate to the actual circumstances, or expects the

opposite of what we know fate holds in store, says

something that anticipates the actual outcome, but not at all

in the way that the character intends.

 Page47

This means that a character does what he thinks is good for himself or

herself, but the readers or other characters know that something different is

going to happen to him or her. They try to advise him or her but he or she

ignores the advice. So, readers anticipate to see whether the outcome will

be in the way that the character intends.

Meyer and Baigernt (1989:100) say that dramatic irony is:

a work, action or situation in a drama with a special

importance or meaning unknown to some characters but

known to the audience.

This means that, in dramatic irony, certain information is concealed from some of the

characters. The audience may sometimes know the situation. The information regarding

certain actions or situations is hidden to some characters because of their ignorance.

The result may sometimes be bad. The element of dramatic irony creates suspense as

readers wait to see whether the planned action will be achieved or not. The full impact

of ironic situations only strikes the reader at a second reading.

However, suspense becomes endless if the action is delayed. There is not doubt that

dramatic irony and suspense are inseparable elements of fiction. Hereunder follows an

assessment of the use of the aspect of dramatic irony by Mahamba and Mphaphuli.

2.5.1 Dramatic irony in Bono la mboni

A noteworthy instance, which also has a bearing on the development of the plot, is when

Thizwilondi falls pregnant. Se secretly plans with her mother to trap Mulamuli.

Thizwilondi's younger sister Ntshengedzeni discovers that plan. She informs Mulamuli

to be careful when he is with Thizwilondi. Thizwilondi and her mother Eveline do not
 Page 48

know that their secret has been discovered. Readers' interest is aroused to see if

Mulamuli will be ignorant in that situation. Thizwilondi invites Mulamuli to come and pay

her a special visit. The decorates the room very nicely. Everything in the room is

beautified to the full to steal Mulamuli's heart. She wears a see-through dress. She tries

by all means to attract Mulamuli but she fails. She tries to force Mulamuli to sleep with

her but he refuses. Thizwilondi does not know that Mulamuli is ware of the trap. But

readers are aware that Thizwilondi would never achieve her plan as Ntshengedzeni has

informed Mulamuli. In her heart and that of her mother, they think that they are going to

win Mulamuli's heart. Things turn upside down. They do not happen in the way that

Thizwilondi and her mother intended as Mulamuli totally refuses to make Jove to

Thizwilondi. This is a dramatic irony, thought is does not involve the detection of crime.

Another instance where Mahamba uses dramatic irony is when Thizwilondi's boyfriends

plan to kill her after finding out about her Jove affair with Eddie Williams. This happens

during the music festival at Thohoyandou Stadium.

Jn Mahamba (1989:56) Robert Fingo says to his friends:

Alsina zwo tou ralo? Uyo o vha Robert Fingo. "lzwo kha a

gume u tshila Thizwilondi, !awe kha Ii vhe Jo tshaho Ii sa do

kovhela. Ni ri mini vhanna vha ... " Fingo a sa athu fhedza u

amba a katudzwa nga Gilbert.

("Is that the case?" That was Roberto Fingo. "Thizwilondi's

life must be terminated, hers should be the one that arose

and never set. What do you say men ... " Fingo is interrupted

by Gilbert before he can finish speaking).

 Page 49

Fingo says this after discovering that Thizwilondi is in love with Eddie Williams. Through

this dialogue, readers share knowledge with the author that something bad is going to

happen to Thizwilondi because of her unfaithfulness. She is complete unaware of what

they are planning to do to her. After the festival, she gets into Fingo's car, thinking that

she is going home. She is not aware of their plan to kill her. In the small Heaven Bar

Lounge, Thizwilondi dances with Eddie Williams. Her boyfriends become very angry.

John Makumbe, who is the foreman in this Bar Lounge, witnesses that event. On her

way home, she is strangled an burnt. She does not reach home. Because of her

ignorance, readers feel sympathy for her as they know that she is going to be killed, and

indeed, she is killed.

The dramatic irony turns into a mystery. Thizwilondi's death creates a lot of problems as

her killers are not known. The detection of her death begins. This helps to develop the

plot of this detective novel as the perpetrators are apprehended and the end of the story.

2.5.2 Dramatic irony in Nwana wa mme anga

In Nwana wa mme anga, Mphaphuli uses dramatic irony in a number of situations. An

example is when Carole pretends to love Jack Maora in order to get help from him.

Through the narrative discourse, readers become aware that Carole does not really love

Jack. She needs help from Jack, as he is a brave man who is also a criminal. Carole

knows Jack very well whereas Jack does not know Carole very well. Carole wants Jack

to help her to release her twin brother Fhatuwani who is at Vondwe Prison. Readers

share knowledge with the author through the narrative discourse that Jack is going to get

into trouble because of his ignorance. One feels sympathy for him when he tries to

release criminals from jail and it is not an easy thing. Because of his ignorance, he is

kidnapped by Mukhakhisi and his gang and finally ends up in jail.

Another dramatic irony is revealed at Messina in Mafangambiti's house. Readers are

 Page 50

aware that the police will encounter Mukhakhisi's gang. The police and Mukhakhisi are

not aware of this incident. Mukhakhisi's gang want to re-kidnap the two women and their

perpetrators. The police, on the other hand, are busy with their investigation. When they

meet at Mafangambiti's house, the reader's interest is aroused. A fierce fighting occurs

and detective Tshihadu is killed. Both the author and the readers are aware of this fight.

The Mangwele incident also occurs dramatically. Mukhakhisi and his gang take the two

kidnapped women together with their kidnappers and hide them in the cave at Mangwele

mountain. These criminals are not ware of the police but readers know that the police are

following them. Readers interest is aroused when the police prepare for the fight.

Mukhakhisi and his gang think that they are about to achieve their purpose. Things

happen in the way that they were not intended. The police arrive at the mountain and kill

some of the criminals. The other criminals who are not killed, are arrested. This result

to the failure of Mukhakhisi's plan, hence a dramatic irony.

Both Mahamba and Mphaphuli use love to achieve dramatic irony in their detective

novels. In Mahamba, Thizwilondi and her mother planned to catch Mulamuli to be

Thizwilondi's husband but their plan fails. In Nwana wa mme anga, Julie pretends to love

Jack whereas she is not. She wins him but ultimately their plan fails.

Thizwilondi in Bono la mboni is killed because of her unfaithfulness. She has many

boyfriends. Her boyfriends discover her unfaithfulness and decide to kill her. In Nwana

wa mme anga Jack is convinced by Julie to assist her in her plan to have Fhatuwani

released from jail. She pretends as if she loves Jack. On the other hand, Jack is not

aware that he is going to get into trouble. He is ultimately arrested and locked up in jail.

In Bono la mboni, Mulamuli is ware of the plan which Thizwilondi and her mother have

planned as Thizwilondi's younger sister Ntshengedzeni informs him about that plan in
 Page 51

advance. Jack in Nwana wa mme anga is not aware that Julie wants to deceive him in

order to achieve her purpose of releasing her twin brother Fhatuwani from jail.

Ntshengedzeni, Mulamuli, the readers know the plan of Thizwilondi and her mother

Eveline for trapping Mulamuli to be Thizwilondi's husband in Bono la mboni whereas in

Nwana wa mme anga, Julie, the readers and the author know the plan of Julie to deceive

Jack Maora so that he should help her to release Fhatuwani from jail.

The plan to kill Thizwilondi Bono la mboni is known by Roberto Fingo, Thomas Everson,

Gilbert Tshirwa, the author and readers. In Nwana wa mme anga, the readers, author

and the police know that the police are going to fight the suspects at Mangwele mountain

whereas Mukhakhisi and his gang are not aware.

In this respect, Mahamba and Mphaphuli try their level best in depicting dramatic irony

in their detective novels. The dramatic irony involving Thizwilondi on the day of her death

helps to develop the plot in Bono la mboni. In Nwana wa mme anga the dramatic irony

that involves the kidnapping of Mutshinyani and Muofhe helps in the progression of he

plot.

2.6 ReSUMe

In this chapter, it has been observed that the plot is what happens in a story or the

vehicle in which other elements of the story are transported.

In Bono la mboni, the crime occurs when Roberto Fingo, Thomas Everson and Gilbert

Tshirwa strangle and burn Thizwilondi Silidzhi after the music festival that is held at

Thohoyandou Stadium. This crime forms the core of this detective story since it is a

problem which is investigated by the police. The police fail to investigate the problem.

They are assisted by Thizwilondi's child, Richard, to arrest the three suspects.
 Page 52

The crime committed in Nwana wa mme anga is of the kidnapping of Muofhe and

Mutshinyani by Julie and Jack. It is the problem that the police are investigating

throughout this detective story. The police never fail in their investigation until they arrest

the suspects at the end of the story.

It is also interesting to note that Bono la mboni is part detective and part social novel.

The crime occurs in the rising of action. From there, the police start with their detection.

The detection in Nwana wa mme anga starts at the beginning as Muofhe and

Mutshinyani are kidnapped at the beginning of this detective story.

Looking at the plot of a detective story and that of an ordinary novel, there is a

remarkable difference. A plot of a detective story differs from a plot of an ordinary novel

because it is full of mystery, suspense and surprise.

Mphaphuli handles the plot of a detective story more efficiently than Mahamba because

his detection of crime is initiated from the beginning in Nwana wa mme anga. Mahamba

fails because detection starts late in the middle of the detective story. The following

chapter examines the place and time where the events took place.
 Page 53

CHAPTER3

3. SETTING

3.1 INTRODUCTION

Novelists make their narratives seem more real and true through the device of setting.

The concept of setting refers to the time and place where events and actions in the story

take place. Mafela (1993:103) says that events and actions in a narrative may take place

at home, school, church, at the river, under the tree or even in the car. This means that

they can take place anywhere. The behaviour of the characters and their actions should

suit the place and the time in which they take place. Tapply (1191:13) remarks:

Setting comprises all the conditions under which things

happen; region, geography, neighborhood, buildings,

interiors, climate, weather, time of day, season of year.

This means that events in a narrative may be influenced by any of the above

mentioned geographical conditions.

From the observation above, it is apparent that setting denotes the place and time in a

literary work, that is, the where and when of a story or play. Hawthorn (1985:102) says:

.. . the events directed could take place in many different

locations ...

In fact, events and actions in literary work are not bound to occur in one

specific place. Setting in a narrative changes continuously. The atmosphere

also shifts accordingly to suit the actions. An author should not force events

to occur where they do not fit. When setting changes, it goes hand in hand
 Page 54

with the development of the plot.

While referring to detective story, Porter (1982:189) says:

A crime always occurs and is solved in a place that,

depending on the tradition in which an author is working, will

be evoked with more or less precision. A detective finds

himself situated in a physical environment whose latent moral

significance may be explicit or implicit, apparent from the

beginning or uncovered only at a later date.

The author may give the place where events take place implicitly or explicitly. When the

space is given in an implicit way, readers can identify/determine the place where the

character finds himself or herself. Setting does not imply only the place and time under

which events take place, it also involves the psychological and social aspects of the

characters. The way in which a character thinks, behaves, lives with others, his or her

lifestyle, what he or she dressed and eats is all related to the setting or society in which

he or she lives. Setting in a detective novel therefore refers to the time and place of

action of the story where the detectives, criminals and victims are engaged in their

activities.

Hereunder follows an analysis of setting in the selected detective stories, taking into

account the crime committed, topographical features, characters, police in investigation

and tools used by the suspects and detectives.

3.2 SETTING IN THE TWO SELECTED DETECTIVE STORIES

The place where events take place in Bono la mboniis Hatshivhasa in Thohoyandou and

Tshiseluselu. The events take place in modern times where people have access to
 Page 55

modern technology. Roberto Fingo, Thomas Everson and Gilbert Tshirwa travel by car

when they go to the festival at Thohoyandou. Mahamba (1989:62) says:

U pambuwa ha goloi ho vha u fara kubada kutuku ku fhiraho

tsini ha vhengele, kwa mbo di yela holoni ya tshitshavha. U

gidima ha goloi ho vha hone, hone afho goloini ho vha hu si

tshee na u ambaho na munwe. Musi hu hone mavhone a

goloi a tshi tau ri kha halo vaa, ha vha hu musi. Thizwilondi

a tshi pfa mbilu i tshi ri vhaa! Ndi nenefha he a vho thomou

amba.

(After turning, they went onto a small road which passes next

to a shop, then leads to the community hall. The car was

travelling at high speed, there was no one speaking. When

the lights of the car beamed on the hall, it was then that

Thizwilondi started feeling fearfull! From there she started

talking).

From the extract, it is clear that Thizwilondi, Robert Fingo, Thomas Everson, Gilbert

Tshirwa are travelling by car. They are on their way home after the music festival at

Thohoyandou Stadium. In as far as the festival is concerned, Greeks and other nations

have had festivals as early as before Christ. Even the Vhavenda people also held

festivals at the chief's kraal. Those festivals included the Tshigombela and Matangwa

after gaining victory from the war, but those festivals were different from the one

Thizwilondi attended. Thizwilondi attends the music festival which is held during the day

or night where people spend the whole day or night with their beloved ones and entertain

themselves by drinking bear. This indicates that the events in this detective story are

taking place in modern Venda.

 Page 56

Another incident that indicates an example of the time during which the events take place

in this detective story is when Roberto Fingo accidentally kills Nndanduleni Ratshali. In

Mahamba (1989:95), it is stated:

Tshifhinganyana nangoho ila goloi ya mbo vha i tshi

lavhelesea nomboro yayo, a wana i yone. Thathu vha re

ngomu hayo vho vha vha tshee vhavhili. Musi goloi i tshi

sendela, Fingo a vha a tshi lugisa tshihali. Tshawe, tshanda

tsha longwa tshikwamani, nahone tsha fara luthathe. Goloi

i tshi fhungudza luvhilo, i tshi da nga qwituku tshitoponi,

Fingo a vha a tshi latela nga mbili gulu nga hanengei ho

dzulaho ane a si khou reila.

(Meanwhile, the cars registration number becomes visible,

he found it to be the right one. There were still two people

in the car. When the car approached, Fingo prepared his

weapon, put the hand in his pocket, then it caught the

trigger. The car slowed down as it approached the stop

sign, Fingo then released two bullets and his the person

sitting in the passenger seat).

In the above extract, we observe that Fingo is hiding while waiting for Nndanduleni

Ratshali's car to arrive at the stop sign. When it approached he fired two bullets at

Nndanduleni, thinking that he was shooting Richard. Fortunately, Richard was not driving

the car. The road, the stop sign together with the gun that is used by Fingo are of modern

time because in olden days these things were not accessible to ordinary people. The

shooting also illustrates the advanced in modern technology as the people use

sophisticate weapons such as guns. In the olden days people used spears and stones
 Page 57

to kill animals and people.

In Nwana wa mme anga, the events take place in Venda and its neighbouring town

Messina. The events in Nwana wa mme anga start at Thohoyandou, then Sibasa,

Makwarela, Shayandima, Messina, Mangwele mountain and finally in jail.

Additional proof that the events take place in modern time, where people are advanced

in modern technology is observed when Mutshinyani travels by a taxi from Thohoyandou

to Sibasa Post Office. Mphaphuli (1974:4) says:

Vho no onesana vha mbo di ya badani. Vha fara thekhisi.

Ndi yeneila thekhisi tswuku ye ya ri i tshi swika Tshiluvhi

fhala tsini na hodela ya Thohoyandou ya namelwa nga

Mutshinyani mufumakadzi wa Vho-Ndifelani.

(After bidding each other farewell she went to the road. The

boarded a taxi. It is that red taxi which Mutshinyani, the wife

of Ndifelani boarded when it reached Tshiluvhi next to

Thohoyandou hotel).

People board taxis from Thohoyandou to Sibasa. Mutshinyani, the wife of Ndifelani also

boards a taxi. In olden days, people used to travel a long distance on foot, which is

hardly heard of today. Nowadays, taxis are used to transport people from one place to

another. This means of transport is of modern time. In view of this explanation, one can

suggest that the time in which events take place in this detective story is modern.

Moreover, the crimes committed in both detective stories, i.e. kidnapping and murder, are

also modern. In the olden days it was impossible to find three or more men killing a lady
 Page 58

whom they are all involved in love affairs with. Thizwilondi is in love with different men,

i.e., Roberto Fingo, Thomas Everson and Gilbert Tshirwa. The three friends discover

Thizwilondi's unfaithfulness and decide to end her life. She is raped, strangled and burnt

to death. This method of killing Thizwilondi in Bono la mboni is practice in modern times.

In Nwana wa mme anga, Muofhe and Mutshinyani are kidnapped by Julie and Jack.

Kidnapping and keeping the victim hostage with the intention of demanding money or the

release of prisoners in practice in modern times. The means of transport and guns used

in both two detective stories also prove that the events take place in modern time.

3.2.1 Setting and crime committed

Crime is an important element of a detective story. Detection is carried out because of

the crime committed - without a crime committed there can be no detection.

In both selected detective novels, an emphasis will be placed on the types of crimes and

the influence of setting on the crimes committed.

Stephen Schafer and Richard Knudten in Senna and Seigel (1984:184) state: "Crime is

a conduct or an action that is defined and codified in law as a crime".

In other words, crime is an offence which is punishable by law. The act of crime is

unacceptable to the community. Every person is expected to lead a good life or behave

in away which is acceptable by the community. Any person who violates the law

deserves to be punished.

The crime committed in Bono la mboniis Thizwilondi's murder by Roberto Fingo, Thomas

Everson and Gilbert Tshirwa. She is raped, strangled and burnt. This type of crime

occurs in Thohoyandou township. Thohoyandou has many recreational facilities such as

 Page 59

a stadium where music is played, cinemas, hotels, boarding schools, and a bar lounge

that may attract foreigners. In this town, which hosts people from all walks of life, people

from different racial groups with different cultural backgrounds, a town where loafers are

found, people anticipate social evils like Thizwilondi's murder to take place. Roberto

Fingo is a coloured man and Thomas Everson and Gilbert Tshirwa are also of different

nationalities. The three friends decide to kill Thizwilondo on the day of the music festival

held at Thohoyandou Stadium after finding out about her affair with Eddie Williams. Most

girls today, as a result of unfaithfulness, have a tendency to be involved with many

boyfriends. For this reason Thizwilondi is killed by her boyfriends. In Mahamba

(1989:59) Fingo says:

"Ni vhona i mini yeneyi vhanna vha hashu?" Fingo u ralo o

di sedza henengei luvhandeni sa we a vha a tshi khou amba

zwithu zwi si na ndeme. A tshi isa phanda e, "Tuwisani

khonani yanu Thomas, ni a zwi vhona musi uri uyu munna o

da u ri tangula?".

("What is this you see my friends?" Fingo says this while

looking at the open space as if what he is saying is

insignificant. He further says, "Take away your friend

Thomas, do you see that this man come to take what belongs

to us?").

From this extract, a colored man Roberto Fingo is extremely upset because of what

Thizwilondi is doing with Williams. She is dancing with Williams in the small Heaven

disco hall. If people of different nationalities club together or befriend each other, they

may sometimes influence one another to do crime because they will be influenced by

their backgrounds. Roberto Fingo, Thomas Everson, Gilbert Tshirwa influence each
 Page 60

other to end Thizwilondi's life after finding out about her unfaithfulness.

The crime committed in this detective novel is compatible with the setting of the story

because it is committed in a mysterious way and furthermore it helps the development

of action in this detective story.

Robert Fingo, Thomas Everson and Gilbert Tshirwa pass via small Heaven bar lounge

where they drink heavily after the festival. In that bar lounge, boys and girls; men and

women drink and dance with great joy.

Mahamba (1989:59) says:

"Madakalo a afho sosani, ho ngo vha a u nwa fhedzi; ngauri

ndi nenefho lonzhini he ha vha ho dovha hafhu ha vha fhethu

hu divhelwaho u tshiniwa hone musi hu tshi khou lidzwa

qwilidzo. U tshina ho vha hu ha vhane vha haya, hu tshi

tshina vhathannga, vhasidzana, vhanna na vhasadzi, avho

vo tangana mbeuni, muvhalani na kha ndimi. Mafhungo a

afha holoni ya disco ndi mafhungo o nakaho, hone a songo

dowelea. E one mafhungo ayo, a nakela vhane, afho hu tshi

ambwa vhenevho vha qwi itaho".

(The joy of the people in the bar lounge is not caused by

drinking only but also the dancing and music bands. The

people who are dancing are boys, girls, men and women who

are citizens of the country. They differ in sex, color and

language. What is happening in that disco hall is good but

strange. It pleases those who are doing it).

 Page 61

This extract portrays what is happening in the Small Heaven bar lounge. People of

different sex, colors and language are dancing and drinking heavily. Thizwilondi is also

among them, dancing with Eddie Williams. In this place where people of different sex,

color and language dance and drink heavily, one may anticipate social evil to take place

as they will be under the influence of liquor. And indeed, Fingo and his friends notice

Thizwilondi's unfaithfulness when she dances with Eddie Williams and decide to end her

life. The bar lounge, being one of the settings in this detective novel, influences the

suspects to commit crime after they have seen Thizwilondi dancing with Williams. The

people in Small Heaven disco hall disperse due to the electric cut-off at one o'clock

during that night. The weather changes during that time.

The weather as one of the geographical factors when Thizwilondi is murdered is

conducive to the crime. Mahamba (1989:63) describes the weather condition as follows:

Naho musadzi uyo o todou sa funa u sa tsa, hone o do guma

o tsa. Afho nnda ya vha i si yone phepho; hu tshi rothola hu

tshi tou thwee! Mvula yo vha i tshi di nga i todou na hu tshi

tou nga i khou thivhelwa nga u bvuma ha mithathabo na

dziphenyo. Two tangana na madumbu e a vha a tshi vho

nga a tshilimo. Madumbu one ndi tshifhinga tsha uri a

thome. Swiswi na lone lo vha lo tou bo; afho holoni hu sa

pfali tshithu nga nnda ha phosho ya tshikhwitha tshe tsha

vha tshi tshi pfala tshi tshi ri, "Hu-huu!" nga murahu ha

tshifhinga. Muano wa vhuraru ndi wa uri a zwi pfi kha muthu

munyu.

(Although that women did not want to get out of the car, she

eventually got out. It was extremely cold, it was about to rain,

 Page 62

but it seemed as if this was prevented by thunderstorm and

lightning. It was a/so extremely dark and nothing was heard

at the hall except the noise of a crying own which was heard

making a sound like "Hu-huu" after a tong time. The oath of

the three is that of not telling anybody).

With the above extract, Mahamba wants to associate bad weather with the evil events

that would be taking place during the night. When it rains with thunderstorm and lighting,

people quickly return to their houses because of fear. It is rare to find a person walking

outside in such bad weather conditions. The criminals, thieves and thugs become free

to do their activities without fear as they could not be seen by anybody. Thizwilondi is

killed in that terrible weather condition. In Venda, thunderstorms, lightning and darkness
/\

are associated with evil. The darkness and thunderstorm played an important role while

the criminals kill Thizwilondi. Because of darkness and the thunderstorm, the

perpetrators think that they would not be noticed by anybody and it would be difficult for

the detectives to trace them since it was very dark and raining.

Mphaphuli (1974:7) says:

Thekhisi ila tswuku yo namelwaho nga mufumakadzi wa Vho-

Ndikandafhi yori u swika fhala hune thekhisi dzothe dza

temba hone, na yone ya ima mudubani na nzinwe.

Vhanameli vha tsa. Carole Thingahangwi Maitakhole a

diimela zwawe tsini na darata ya mapholisani, o vha a tshi

kha di lavhelesa ngeno hu uri kha mufhiri wa gondo a tshi

nga o farakanea nga u vhala gurannda. Mureili a tshi dzhia

tshelede ya Vho-Muofhe Ndikandafhi, Carole o vha a khou di

zwi vhona. Vho no badela vha livha poswoni. A vha tevhela

 Page 63

nga murahu a sa fheli mbilu. A vhona vha tshi dzhena

poswoni. A tshi swika munangoni ndi musi vha tshi vho bva.

Poswoni ho vha ho dala vhathu.

(When the red taxi boarded byNdikandafhi's wife approaches

the taxi rank, the passengers get out. Carole Thingahangwi

Maitakhole stands next to the police station fence. She looks

as if she is busy reading newspaper. When the driver takes

money from Muofhe Ndikandifhi, Carole was still looking on.

After paying, she went to the post office. Carole followed her

patiently. She saw her getting into the post office. When she

arrived at the entrance, Ndikandafhi's wife was getting out.

In the post office there were many people).

From this extract, we learn that Julie is following the wife of the honourable judge of

Thohoyandou in order to kidnap her. She is following the women while hiding among

other people who are walking up and down in the town of Sibasa. The artificially created

feature like Sibasa Town together with Makwarela and Shayandima townships may

become fertile ground for criminal activities. In town there are people coming from all

walks of life with varying social and cultural backgrounds. It is the place where criminals

such as robbers, hijackers, kidnappers and killers are found. People walk in fear of these

criminals. In this detective story, Muofhe Ndikandafhi and Mutshinyani Ndifelani travel

on foot from Sibasa Post Office to Makwarela Location where there is an optometrist.

Mphaphuli (1974:7) says:

"Nangoho vhuvhili havho vhala vhafumakadzi vha mbo fara

bada ila i fhiraho nga tsini na tshikolo tsha Raluswielo. A vha

 Page 64

sala murahu a sa tsha divha uri a nga dzhia mini a vhea

mini".

(Indeed, both women take the road that passed next to the

School of Raluswielo. The followed them, not knowing what

to do).

From this extract, we learn that Muofhe and Mutshinyani are on their way to the

optometrist at Makwarela Location. Julie is following in order to kidnap them. The two

women are eventually kidnapped. Roads in towns are always busy. The cars and people

normally move up and down. So, Muofhe and Mutshinyani are kidnapped on the busy

road next to Raluswielo Secondary School. The distance between Sibasa and

Makwarela is a little big long. That area had bushes and tall grass. There is a possibility

that in such an area, people may be kidnapped or hijacked. No wonder Julie and Jack

are able to kidnap Muofhe and Mutshinyani. The township surrounding Thohoyandou

town have an influence on the setting of this detective novel. The townships include

Shayandima and Makwarela. In townships, old deserted houses are found. Criminals

normally hide in these houses so that they cannot be easily identified by the detectives

and residents of that place. In Nwana wa mme anga, Julie and Jack kidnap Muofhe and

Mutshinyani and hide them in Mafangambiti's deserted house at Shayandima Loction.

In this detective novel, Mphaphuli (1974:19) has this to say:

Modoro wa Jack wo ri u takuwaGammbani wa fara bada i

tsaho nga Mbaleni. Wo ri u swika tshigontirini tshi re tsini na

vhukavhamabufho ha Tshiulungoma wa livha vhukovhela.

Vhafumakadzi a fho ngo kona u divha uri vho livha ngafhi

ngauri dennde lo vha Ii si na mafasitere.

 Page 65

(Immediately when Jack's car left Gammbani, it took the road

that passes via Mbaleni. When it approached the tarred road

next to Tshiulungoma airport, it turned to the west. The

women did not notice where they were going because the

canopy did not have windows).

From this extract, it appears that Julie and Jack are going to the old house of

Mafangambiti at Shayandima Location. This house is no longer used. The perpetrators,

Julie and Jack, intend to hide Muofhe and Mutshinyani in the abandoned house with the

intention to rescue Julie's brother Fhatuwani from prison.

Therefore, old deserted are sometimes a refuge for criminals. They sleep there while

they are busy with their criminal activities.

In case of Julie, she and her brother Fhatuwani desert their parents. Julie gets married

to Mpfariseni in Botswana, who suddenly passes away. Fhatuwanijoined criminal gangs

who used to rob banks. Now that Fhatuwani is arrested, Julie wants to have him

released from jail with the help of Jack Maora who is a notorious criminal. While they are

demanding that the detectives should release Fhatuwani, Julie and Jack are hiding in

Mafangambiti's deserted house in Shayandima.

The keeping of the two women in the abandoned house helps in the development of the

action in this detective story because it makes the detectives search for them.

The author also uses Mangwele Mountain in Nwana wa mme anga to make the detective

story more convincing. The criminals, Mukhakhisi and his gang, after capturing the two

women, hide in the cave at Mangwele Mountain, Mphaphuli, (1974:76) says this about

Mangwele Mountain:
 Page 66

U gonya thavha ya Mangwele zwi toda vhuronwane. Arali wa

sa tou zwi dzhiela nzhele u nga ritha matombo a kunguluwa

a tshi humela murahu u huvhadza vha re murahu. Fhedzi

mapholisa vhunga vhe vhathu vho digudisaho zwithu zwinzhi

vho vha vha tshi tou gonya sa zwimange.

(It is not easy to climb Mangwele mountain. If one is not

careful enough, one can cause a stone to fall and injure

those who are following behind. The detectives, as they

have taught themselves a variety of things, climb it like cats).

The above extract reveals the difficulty that one can come across when climbing

Mangwele Mountain. One needs great care to climb it. The author reveals, that this

mountain is difficult to climb for people who are not familiar with it. In olden days, the

Vhavenda people used to use the mountains as the place of refuge against attack by

their enemies. They are familiar with the mountains and big forests. The Vhavenda

people do not fear to climb mountains.

In the past, when Vhavenda were attacked by Mabunyu people (Nguni people), the

Mangwele Mountain in Tshakhuma served as a refuge. The Vhavenda in Tshakhuma

fled to this mountain and hid themselves in the caves. When the Swazis and Zulus

followed them, they blocked the way by rolling big stones and as a result, they defeated

them. Hence the name Tshakhuma tsha Madzivhandila (Tshakhuma of road blocker)

because the Vhavenda blocked of the Swazis and Zulus by rolling stones while the

Swazis and Zulus were trying to follow them at the top of Mongwele mountain.

Mukhakhisi and his gang are of Venda nationality. They are familiar with this mountain.

This can be seen after they have captured the two women from the hands of Julie and
 Page 67

Jack. Mukhakhisi and his gang hide in the cave in Mangwele Mountain. This mountain

has in influence on the setting of this detective story.

Mukhakhisi and his gang do crime with the intention of hiding themselves in the

mountains as they are familiar with them. The detectives find it simple to climb this

mountain. That is the reason why they succeed in arresting the criminals.

In Bono la mboni, Thizwilondi is killed during the night when the weather conditions are

very bad, whereas in Nwana wa mme anga, Muofhe and Mutshinyani are kidnapped on

the road near Raluswielo Secondary School in broad daylight.

Venda country, with its recreational facilities like stadiums, bar lounge, flats., and the

weather conditions and bushes influenced crime in Bono la mboni because Roberto

Fingo and his friends do crime in darkness; and after committing crime Fingo hides in the

bush thinking that he will not be identified. In Nwana wa mme anga, Julie and Jack hide

in Mafangambiti's old deserted house after kidnapping Muofhe and Mutshinyani. Again,

Mukhakhisi and his gang, after re-kidnapping Muofhe and Mutshinyani together with Julie

and Jack, hide in the cave at Mangwele Mountain.

It seems as if the perpetrators in both detective novels commit crime knowing where they

will hide themselves, as they are familiar with the geographical features of the Venda

countryside.

All in al, weather conditions such as darkness and thunderstorms, topographical features

such as towns, flats and bushes play an important role in influencing the characters,

especially the criminals, to behave the way they did in Bono la mboni. In Nwana wa mme

anga, Thohoyandou town and the old deserted house, Mangwele Mountain with its caves

influence the criminals in this detective novel, to act the way they did because the
 Page 68

criminals hide there after committing crime. It is their place of refuge.

3.2.2 Setting and Characters

Characters are fictional persons who take part in the action of work of literature. The plot

of a story is generally focused on the main character. Minor characters keep the action

moving forward and help the reader learn more about the main characters.

W J Havey, as cited by Makgamantha (1992:84), sums up the functional role of

characters ver aptly when he says:

They are vehicles by which all the most interesting questions

are raised, they evoke our beliefs, sympathies, revulsion,

they incarnate the moral vision of the world inherent in the

total novel. In a sense they are end-products, they are what

the novel exists for, it exists ro reveal them.

I should be borne in mind that the plot is regarded as the product of the characters'

action. The characters are responsible for carrying out the action in a story. In a

narrative, characters are depicted in two different ways i.e. explicit (direct) and implicit

(indirect) characterisation. Explicit characterisation occurs when a character makes self-

analysis, talks about himself to other characters and when the narrator makes explicit

statements about a character whereas implicit characterisation is applied through the

actions of the characters, speech, appearance and environment (Grobler et al 1992:68-

89). They carry their action within an established setting. Characters are therefore an

integral part of the story. The actions of the characters are influenced by setting. As the

setting influences the events in the story, it is obvious that setting influence characters

to behave in a way that is related to a particular place. A story cannot be a story without

characters. The novel exists because of characters.

 Page 69

In a detective story, there are different types of characters, namely victims, suspects

(murderers) and detectives. Emphasis will be placed on these types of characters in

order to determine the extent to which the setting has influenced them in the two selected

detective novels.

3.2.2.1 Victims

Thizwilondi and Nndanduleni Ratshali are victims in Bono la mboni. Thizwilondi leads a

corrupt life. She is in love with many men of different nationalities i.e. Roberto Fingo,

Thomas Everson, Gilbert Tshirwa together with Eddie Williams, a great singer from

America. Thizwilondi's lifestyle and her unfaithfulness suit the time and place where she

grows up. It is her unfaithfulness that makes her the victim of circumstances.

Robert Fingo, in Mahamba (1989:55) says:

"lzwo kha a gume u tshila Thizwilondi, !awe kha Ii vhe lo

tshaho Ii sa do kovhela. Ni ri mini vhanna ... " (Thizwilondi's

life must end, hers mut be the one that rises and never sets.

What do you say, guys .. .).

From this quotation, it becomes clear that Fingo, after finding out about Thizwilondi's love

affair with Eddie Williams, plans with his friends to end Thizwilondi's life. Indeed, they kill

her after the music festival held at Thohoyandou Stadium. One can say that Thizwilondi

is the victim in this detective novel.

Lovers often go to the music festival to entertain themselves. They meet different people

from different places. Yes, of course, in a place like a stadium, if there is a function,

people do plan to do bad things to their enemies. Indeed, Thizwilondi, after the music

festival was victimized by her boyfriends, Roberto Fingo, Thomas Everson and Gilbert
 Page 70

Tshirwa. The place where Thizwilondi's boyfriends plan to kill her is compatible with the

setting of this detective story.

As a spoilt child, Thizwilondi starts to drink heavily. The situation in which Thizwilondi

fiends herself influenced her life. No wonder after the music festival she passes via a bar

lounge together with her boyfriends. As a modern girl she does what she likes. Most of

the women who drink heavily and who also love different men often land in trouble.

At the music festival and in the bar lounge, people plan to do bad things to the people

with whom they are at loggerheads. The place where Roberto Fingo, Thomas Everson

and Gilbert Tshirwa plan to kill Thizwilondi is suitable for planning evil doing.

The three friends, Roberto Fingo, Thomas Everson and Gilbert Tshirwa decide to end

Thizwilondi's life during the night after the music festival. The time and the situation in

which they find themselves in the festival influence them to kill Thizwilondi because they

become upset when they see their girlfriend with Eddie Williams. She is killed during the

night of heavy thunderstorm and lightning and left near Tshiseluselu Community Hall.

Thizwilondi's killers are not known. The detectives start with their investigation.

Therefore, Thizwilondi's death contributes to the development of action in this detective

story. She is killed because of her corrupt life. It is in this modern time where ladies lose

their lives because of loose character.

Muofhe is the wife of the Honourable Judge Ndikandafhi or Thohoyandou. He has

sentenced Julie's brother, Bhatuwani to serve a jail term in Vondwe Prison. Julie wants

to have her brother released from jail. She and Jack plan to kidnap Muofhe, the wife of

the famous judge of Thohoyandu. Nowadays, if people want to achieve their aims

through you, they kidnap the person who is nearest to you or whom you love most. No
 Page 71

wonder Muofhe, when she is on the way to the optometrist, is kidnapped by Julie and

Jack. Kidnapping is a common practice these days.

Mutshinyani, the wife of Ndifelani, a visitor from Johannesburg, is also kidnapped with

Muofhe. The does not know the place where she is going. Anything could happen to her

on the way. Visitors sometimes become victims. She is also kidnapped with Muofhe by

Julie and Jack near Raluswielo Secondary School early in the morning when they are on

their way to the optometrist at Makwarela Location. The situation surrounding Muofhe

and Mutshinyani's kidnapping is suitable and compatible to the setting of this detective

story because they are kidnapped far away from busy shops and roads, where people

could not notice anything happening. The setting influences Julie and Jack to kidnap

Muofhe and Mutshinyani because of the availability of roads and transport which Julie

and Jack use to transport the victims.

Again in Nwana wa mme anga, while Julie and Jack are holding Muofhe and Mutshinyani

hostage, they are not aware that Mukhakhisi and his gang are planning to capture them.

However, Mukhakhisi and his gang intervene and capture Julie's parents together with

Julie, Jack, Muofhe and Mutshinyani (1974:72) says:

A ho ngo tsha vha na zwinwe. Ho mbo di vha u kundwa

tshothe ha Carole na Jack, Vho-Mafangambiti na Vho-

Mususumeli vho mbo pfuluswa vha iswa ngei bakoni la

thavhani ya Mangwele.

(There was nothing else. Carole and Jack were totally

defeated. Carole, Jack, Mafangambiti and Mususumeli were

removed and hidden in the cate at Mangwele Mountain).

 Page 72

The above extract means that Julie, Jack, Mafangambiti and his wife Mususumei, are

captured by Mukhakhisi and his gang and hidden at Mangwele Mountain. This plan is not

successful, as the police were following them.

All the actions of the victims and the culprits and they way of life do fit in with the place

and t e modern time in which the actions occur, because Mukhakhisi and his gang are

familiar with Venda country. He knows ho to climb mountains and he does not fear hiding

in the caves. He commits crime with an intention to hide in the caves as he is familiar

with them.

The victim in Bono la mboniis Thizwilondi, whereas in Nwana wa mme anga, Muofhe and

Mutshinyani are kidnapped because Julie wants to have her twin brother Fhatuwani

released from jail. Thizwilondi is killed during the night when there are thunderstorms and

lightning in Bono la mboni, whereas in Nwana wa mme anga, Muofhe and Mutshinyani

are kidnapped in broad daylight.

The killing of Thizwilondi in Bono la mboni and kidnapping of Muofhe and Mutshinyani in

Nwana wa mme anga assist in the development of action in both detective novels and

is compatible in the setting of both novels.

3.2.2.2 Suspects

In the detective story, suspects are defined as those detailed explanation regarding

suspects follows in chapter 4. In these two selected detective stories, the focus will be

on the influence of setting on suspects in order to see whether setting influences them.

Robert Fingo is the suspect in Bono la mboni because he is suspected of killing

Thizwilondi, committing the crime of murder. After Thizwilondi's murder, the police start

with their investigation. Roberto Fingo attended Thizwilondi's funeral.

 Page 73

Mahamba (1989:23) has this to say:

Vhanna avho vha tshi khou ralo u amba nga ha Robert, vha

tshi khou mu humbulela, na ene u khou humbula-vho. Tsho

do tou mu dinaho ndi tsha u vho vhona nga murahu ha u

amba ha mapholisa na Vho-Silidzhi, vha mulayo vha tshi vho

mu tevhela nga murahu.

(While those men were speaking about Roberto, suspecting

him, he was also thinking. What really worried him most was

when he saw the police following him after a talk with Mr

Silidzhi).

This means that the police suspect Roberto Fingo. The way he stands far away from

other funeral mourners makes one suspect him. Furthermore he does not actively

involve himself in the funeral service. That is why detective Muzila, Nedzamba and

Silidzhi suspect him. The other reason is that before the death of Thizwilondi, he used

to come to Silidzhi's family to pay visit to the latter. This suspicious which takes place in

the graveyard during the funeral of Thizwilondi has a direct influence of the development

of action in this detective story. Therefore Roberto Fingo's actions and the place where

he stands during the funeral service made him a suspect in the killing of Thizwilondi. His

actions fit in with the occurrence of the suspicious event. The situation during

Thizwilondi's funeral service makes people and the detectives suspect Fingo for killing

Thizwilondi. Fingo is arrested but later released as he is not found guilty.

Mahamba (189:21) also says:

Vhathu vha tshi khou balangana, ho do vhonala Vho-Silidzhi

 Page 74

vho ima na mapholisa mavhili, Vho-Muzila na Vho-Nedzamba,

vhe vha vhonale vha tshi nga vho vha vha tshi khou amba

mafhungo a sa dini zwone. Mapholisa vho do sala murahu ha

inwe goloi ye mune wayo a si fune zwa u yela mudini wa ha

Silidzhi naho khumbelo yo vha yo ralo. Goloi ye ya vha yo

salwa murahu yo vha i ye mudini wa ha Silidzhi ya vha i songo

hu dowela zwone.

(When people were dispersing Silidzi was seen standing with

two policemen, Muzila and Nedzamba, who appeared to be

engaged in a serious conversation. The po/ice followed a

certain car whose owner did not like to go to Silidzhi's

homestead although requested to do so. The car that was

being followed was the one that used to be seen at Silidzhi's

family).

From this extract it is clear that the police suspect Fingo to be responsible for the death

of Thizwilondi Silidzhi. After the funeral service, Fingo does not go to Silidzhi's family,

although people are requested to do so. This encourages the detectives to follow him.

Indeed, Fingo is arrested but later released as he is not found guilty.

Again, after Fingo has killed Nndanduleni Ratshali, he shouted loudly, calling the late

Thizwilondi Silidzhi and disappeared into the bush. This enabled Richard to identify the

voice of Roberto Fingo, as he long suspected him to have killed his mother.

Mahamba (1989:95) says:

Mupondwa a tshi khou tavha mukosi, Fingo a vha a tshi tavha

 Page 75

wawe-vho, a tshi ri, "Thizwilondo!" Fingo a ralo a tshi vho

shavha, u shavha lwa u tou pwasha na mataka.

(When the victim was crying, Fingo a/so started crying, saying,

"Thizwilondi!" Fingo said this while running away, in a manner

to destroy bushes).

Fingo, in the above quotation, shouted loudly after killing Nndanduleni Ratshali

accidentally. As he runs away, his loud voice, when he calls Thizwilondi, makes

Thizwilondi's child, Richard, suspect him as he has been looking for him all along in order

to kill him. Richard reports the incident to the police and the police follow Roberto Fingo

to his house in Thohoyandou, where he is arrested.

In Nwana wa mme anga, the police suspect Julie after visiting her parents Mafangambiti

and Mususumeli, in Messina. Unfortunately the police found Mukhakhisi and his gang

in Mafangambiti's house in Messina. A fierce fight ensued between the police and the

criminals. The fight between the two groups leads to the killing of detective Tshihadu.

The place where this event takes place is in Messina location where Mafangambiti and

his wife Mususumeli reside. In urban areas different kinds of criminal activities take

place. Criminals use guns and knives, hence the criminal gang of Mukhakhisi. Guns are

tools of modern times and they are normally used in urban areas. Therefore, the fierce

fight where knives and guns are used suit the modern time and place of this detective

novel. The death of detective Tshihadu delays the investigation. The detectives now get

a useful clue to tract down the perpetrators because they are informed by Mafangambiti

and Mususumeli where Julie is. They now know who the criminals are as they have seen

Mukhakhisi and his gang. They found their suspect Mukhakhisi in Mafangambiti's house

in Messina. Mukhakhisi and his gang recaptured the two women together with Julie and

Jack. In this detective story, setting influences Julie and Jack's action because they
 Page 76

kidnap Muofhe and Mutshinyani, knowing where they will hide them. Indeed, they hide

them in Mafangambiti's old house at Shayandima.

Mphaphuli (197 4:58) says:

Magevhenga a dzhenisa Vho-Mafangambiti na mufumakadzi

goloini. Nndu ya lodelwa nga nnda.

(The criminals put Mafangambiti and his wife in the car. The

house was locked from outside).

In this quotation, Mukhakhisi and his gang capture Mafangambiti and his wife

Mususumeli. They want them to help find Carole. The police are locked in the house of

Mafangambiti and left behind by Mukhakhisi and his gang. Mukhakhisi and his gang

recapture the two women together with their kidnappers and go to hide them at Mangwele

Mountain.

The detective have now seen the criminals who are behind the kidnaping of the two

women. The detection delayed because of the death of detective Tshihadu. This

activities of the suspects align with the setting of this detective novel because they locked

the detectives in the room and went by car to Mafangambiti's old house at Shayandima.

Houses with locks and a car are modern things which people live in and travel with

respectively.

The suspects hide themselves in the cave at Mangwele Mountain. They do not realise

that the police are following them. A fierce fight ensues between the police and

Mukhakhisi's gang. This lead to the death of Mukhakhisi and some of his members.
 Page 77

The place and time had a tremendous influence on the actions of the suspects in the

selected detective novels. Fingo's actions in Bono la mboni are influenced by the place

and time. Fingo is a foreigner. He might have acquired skills of killing people in foreign

countries. He is now staying in Venda where weather changes every hour due to the

topography of the country. Fingo and his friend kill Thizwilondi mysteriously at night.

They were able to do this because of darkness, thunderstorm and lightning. Weather

makes it easy for them to carry on their criminal activities. Darkness protects them from

being seen by people. The thunderstorm makes it difficult for them to be heard by

people. Therefore, topographical features play an important role in the development of

action in this detective novel.

In Nwana wa mme anga, Fhatuwani's actions help in the development of the action of

this detective novel. Fhatuwani is brought up in a well-to-do family where he gets all he

wants. This causes him to abandon his parents and join criminal gangs. Fhatuwani and

his friends are arrested after robbing First National Bank in Thohoyandou and kept in

Vondwe prison. This helps in the development of the action because Julie struggles to

release him by threatening the police. While the police are investigating, the

development of action in this detective story takes place.

The suspects, Carole and Jack, contribute to the development of the action because they

kidnap Muofhe and Mutshinyani and hide them in Mafangambiti's old house in

Shayandima. The police investigate this crime while looking for Muofhe and Mutshinyani.

Time and place therefore play an important role in the development of action in this

detective novel.

3.2.2.3 Detectives and investigation

Detectives are persons who investigate the crime committed in order to find the criminals.

Krushnamurthy (1994:254) defines a detective as "someone whose job is to discover

 Page 78

what has happened in a crime or other situation and to find the people involved".

Indeed, the detectives' task is to investigate the crime in order to find the people involved.

More detailed explanation of detectives will be given in Chapter 4. Here, we shall

concentrate on the influence of setting in the detectives' investigation.

The detectives investigating the crime of Thizwilondi's murder in Bono la mboni are

Muzila, Nedzamba and Masutha. These detectives are trained in the field of investigating

crime, and are able to investigate a crime scientifically, using their knowledge of detection

and gathering information from people. This is seen afterthe death of Thizwilondi, when

detectives Muzila and Nedzamba contact the deceased's parents and close friends.

From Thizwilondi's sister Ntshengedzeni and her parents, the detectives obtain a useful

clue.

Mahamba (1989:16) maintains that:

Tshedzanyana tsho bva na Vho-Nedzamba vhe vha bvisa

muhumbulo wa uri khonani dza mufu dzi vhe dzone dzi

thomaho u sedzuluswa. Dzi re khonani dza musadzi-wa-

vhane dzone, vha nga dzi divha fhedzi nga u tou kwama

vhabebi vha mufu.

(Detective Nedzamba brought a little light when he suggested

that the deceased's friends must first be investigated. The

friends of the deceased will only be known by contacting her

parents).

Detective Nedzamba's suggestion proves to be professional. Indeed, detective

 Page 79

Nedzamba and Masutha do track down the perpetrators. They visit the deceased's

parents and close friends together with Thizwilondi's younger sister Ntshengedzeni to

obtain information about Thizwilondi's death. Contacting the deceased's close friends

in order to find out the evil doer(s) is common practice for detectives. This activity is of

modern time and it aligns with the setting of this detective novel.

At the funeral service of Thizwilondi, detective Nedzamba and Muzila suspect Roberto

Fingo to be responsible for the death of Thizwilondi. The detectives escort Roberto Fingo

to the police station.

Mahamba in (1989:22) has this to say:

Fhungo le vhuraru ha vhanna avha vha fhedza ngalo lo vha la

uri Roberto a tuwe na mapholisa tshititshini. Zwo ralo, goloi

mbili dza mbo tuwa dzo salana murahu, murahu ho sala ya

vhoramilayo.

(The three men concluded that Roberto must go with the

police to the police station. However, the two cards followed

one another and behind was the car of the lawyers).

Roberto is escorted to the police station by the detectives. It is in this modern setting

where one finds police escorting the criminals by means of cars. For this reason, setting

in Bono la mboni plays a major role to the actions of the detectives.

When detective Muzila asks Nedzamba how he feels about Roberto Fingo in Mahamba

(1989:22-23), Nedzamba says:

 Page 80

"Nne hoyu munna ndi vhona uri u na mulandu, mafhungo haya

u a a talusa. Ndo vhona kuitele kwawe musi ri tshi reshana

("/ think this man is guilty, he knows this matter. I saw his

actions when we greeted him').

In this extract, detective Nedzamba suspects Roberto of murdering Thizwilondi. The

detective also shares views and ideas about the perpetrators in order to make the right

decision on the matter. Discussions and negotiations to solve the problem pertaining to

crime and related issues are done in modern times, unlike in the past where detectives

used to arrest people whom they suspect regardless of whether they committed a crime

or not. Therefore, setting in this detective novel has a tremendous influence on the

actions and way of life of the detectives.

Mahamba (1989:65) says:

Vhanna avho vhuraru havho, vho farwa nga la u tau humulela.

Nga murahu ha musi Roberto o farwa, mihumbulo ya Vho-

Sedzheni Muzila yo shuma i songo shuma. Ndi henefho he

munna uyu, a vho elelwa maledere e a vha o nwalwa kha

gwangwa la mulilo le la dobiwa henengei he tshitumbu tsha

wanala hone. Kha gwangwa lenelo, ho vha ho nwalwa

maledere R T G nga madanzi. Zwino Vho Muzila vho ri vha

tshi lavhelesa mafhungo othe ayo, nga maanda vho no wana

na vhutanzi ha uri Thizwilondi a tshi tuwa hayani o vha e na

Roberto na vhanwe vhanna vhavhili, munna avho vha mbo di

fara Gilbert na Thomas. Thomas Everson ene, Vho Muzila vho

 Page 81

do ri vha tshi vho vhona na tshanda tshawe tshe tsha vha tshi

tshee tsho pombiwa, vha mbo di pfa vho no tou takala, u takala

munna avho vha tshi hu itiswa nge vha vhambedza fuvhalo ilo

la mulilo na mulilo we mufu a wana o fhiswa ngawo.

(Those three men were arrested because they were

suspected. After Roberto was arrested, Sergeant Muzila gave

this issue serious thought. He realised the letters that were

written on the box of matches that were picked up where the

corpse was found. On that box were the letters R T G in

capital letters. When Muzila saw this, especially after getting

evidence that Thizwilondi was with Roberto and other two men

when she disappeared, he arrests Gilbert and Thomas. When

Muzila sees Thomas Everson's bandaged hand, he started to

feel happy because he compared the wound of the fire and the

fire that burnt the deceased).

The above extract shows detective Muzila to be an intelligent man who carefully

examines every bit of available information in his quest to track down the perpetrators.

He arrests Roberto Fingo, Thomas Everson and Gilbert because he suspects them for

having killed Thizwilondi. During his search, he discovers two things that are identical

and compares them in order to get true evidence of the case. In modern times criminals

carry out their criminal activities in a very complicated manner. In order to counter this,

detectives also have to come up with very sophisticated techniques of investigation such

as what Nedzamba and Muzila have done.

The investigation becomes complicated as the criminals bribe the witnesses.

 Page 82

Thizwilondi's mother, Eveline and John Makumbe together with procurator Dick Marvin.

As a result, the detectives fail to detect the crime due to the bribe. In this modern times,

criminals use money to bribe witnesses so that they may be rescued from the trial. In this

detective novel, Thizwilondi's son, Richard, helps the detectives to arrest the criminals

after Fingo has accidentally killed Nndanduleni Ratshali. Richard reports the case of the

death of his uncle to the police. The police do not delay the investigation, they act quickly

and go to Roberto Fingo's house, as Richard suspects him.

The investigation and the procedures taken by the detectives to track down the criminals

are of a modern time because they use contact method, negotiations, and quickly act on

an investigation when the case is reported. In olden times, the detectives took a long to

start investigating the case after it was reported. Therefore, setting in this detective novel

influenced the detectives to track down the criminals in a more systematic and modern

way even though they fail in their detection.

In Nwana wa mme anga, the detectives are Ndikandafhi, the station commander of

Thohoyandou. Tshihadu and Tshimangadzo Mavhone. They investigate the kidnapping

of the two women, Muofhe and Mutshinyani. Detectives Tshihadu and Tshimangadzo

Mavhone are detectives who know their job. They are not easily convinced by the

criminals to release Julie's brother Fhatuwani from jail. They want to investigate the case

first rather than quickly giving in to criminals' demands.

In Nwana wa mme anga, detective Tshibuleni, after receiving a telephone call from the

criminals, says:

''Tsha u thoma ndi khou humbula uri pholisa Tshimangadzo

Mavhone a ye hangei dzhele ya Vondwe. Vho-Mavhone vha

na mpho ya u tumbula zwithu. Vha fanela u sengulusa

 Page 83

zwivhotshwa izwo zwina. Thanwe muthihi khavho a nga bva

na vhutanzi vhune ha nga ri lumba kha vhane vha khou

lingedza u vha rengulula. Rine-vho ngeno a ri nga sali ro

dzula. Ndi kou todou tangana na nedorobo, muphurisidende

na dziminista dzothe uri ri dzulele dandetande heli", Ndi Vho

Tshibuleni (Mphaphuli, 1974:17-18).

(Firstly, I suggest that Tshimangadzo Mavhone goes to

Vondwe prison. Mavhone has the skill of discovering things.

He must investigate the four prisoners. Maybe one of them

will come up with a clue which will help us find the people who

are trying to have the prisoners released. We will a/so not

relax. I want to meet the mayor of this town, the president and

all the ministers to discuss this matter, says Tshibuleni).

This extract proves that the detectives in this detective novel are not easily cornered, they

want to investigate the perpetrators first. After receiving a telephone call, detective

Tshimangadso Mavhone goes to Vondwe prison to interrogate the four prisoners. He

discovers the F H S abbreviation on Alphonso Fhambanani's necklace. The

abbreviations help on the development of action in this detective novel as these

abbreviations give them courage for further investigation. Detectives Tshimangadzo

Mavhone and Tshihadu are modern because they know how to read and interpret the

abbreviations. As detectives of modern times they are used to traveling by car while

gathering information that will be used to identify the criminals. The school which they

visited to investigate if Fhatuwani has ever been a student there is also of modern times

because it has a gate, staff office and a soccer playground. They obtain full information

about Alphonso Fhambanani. After that, they pay a visit to Fhatuwani's parents,

Mafangambiti and Mususumeli, in Messina to gather more information. The detectives

 Page 84

meet Mukhakhisi's gang. Unfortunately, detective Tshihadu is killed by Frelimo. The

intervention of Mukhakhisi and his gang complicates the investigation. Later on, the

detectives follow Mukhakhisi's gang at Mangwele Mountain where a fierce fight ensues.

Ganyani Makumbelo, Casanova Madzungunye, Faraday Mukhakhisi lose their lives.

Frelimo, Julie and Jack are arrested and locked up in jail.

The detection and procedures followed in gathering the information from the people is

of modern time because cars are used. Their investigation is logical and systematic

because they follow step by step in their investigation. They even collect evidence from

people and analyse it systematically. This proves that detectives Tshimangadzo

Mavhone and Tshihadu are trained for this job. They have good skills in investigating

crime.

Detectives Muzila and Masutha investigate Thizwilondi's murder case in Bono la mboni,

whereas in Nwana wa mme anga, the detectives investigate the kidnapping of Muofhe

and Mutshinyani.

In both detective stories, the detectives follow several steps to detect the crime.

Detectives Muzii a and Musutha use the box of matches with RT G abbreviations to track

down the criminals in Bono la mboni whereas in Nwana wa mme anga detectives

Tshimangadzo Mavhone and Tshihadu use F H S abbreviations on Alphonso

Fhambanani's and Julie's parents in Messina.

The detectives in Bono la mboni first fail to investigate the case of the death of

Thizwilondi due to conflicting evidence caused by bribery. Richard, Thizwilondi's son,

helps the detectives to arrest the perpetrators. In Nwana wa mme anga, the detectives

never fail in their detection of crime. Detective Tshihadu lost his life in Nwana wa mme

anga. No detective is killed in Bono la mboni.

 Page 85

The detection of crime in both two selected detective stories if of modern time as the

detectives use cars to gather information or evidence from different places. They even

use logical thought in analysing those evidence. In Bono la mboni there are a few flaws.

The detection of the crime is delayed. It starts in the middle of the story. The detective

first fail to identify the suspects but an ordinary person, Richard, helps them to arrest the

suspects. All in all, the setting of these detective novels influenced the lives of the

detectives and their way of investigating crime.

3.2.3 Setting and tools

A tool is an object or instrument which a person uses to do his or her job. In other words,

a tool refers to any object or instrument which criminals and detectives (police) use. It

can either be a knife or a gun.

The World Book Encyclopedia Volume 19 (1982:257) defines a tool as:

"An instrument that a worker uses to work".

This means that instruments such as knives, guns, poison, means of transport,

telephones are referred to as tools. These tools are used for different purposes. Some

of these tools can cause harm to the body of a person.

In Bono la mboni, we find that Thizwilondi is killed by a number of things.

Mahamba (1989:15) has this to say:

Thizwilondi Silidzhi o fa nga zwithu zwi na mbalo, hone

tshihulwanesa khazwo ndi u slilingwa. Nanga i tshi sedzulusa

 Page 86

ya wana uri muvhilini wa mufu ho vha ho andesa gesehambe,

zwi sumbaho uri mufu o vha o fa na nga u thivhiwa dziningo,

o fa nga tshipfundamuya. Muvhili wo fhiswaho, u ya nga ha

dokotela, uho ho vha vhutudzi ha musi muthu o no vha

tshitumbu.

(Thizwilondi Silidzhi was killed by a number of things, but the

greatest of them all is that of nauseous. Jn his investigation,

the doctor found that in the body of the deceased there was

a Jot of carbon dioxide. This indicates that the deceased was

suffocated, and died of carbon dioxide, according to the

doctor, the body was burnt after she was killed).

From this extract, we can deduce that the criminals strangled and burnt her. They used

their hands to strangle her. Hands which are organs of the body of a human being are

used as weapons. These actions of the criminals are modernised. It is during this time

where criminals use hands, knives and guns to threaten women before they rape them.

The criminals use these tools because they are available during this modern time.

The suspects, Roberto Fingo, Thomas Everson and Gilbert Tshirwa use a car to travel

from home to Silidzhi's family before and after Thizwilondi's death. They use that car to

carry out their criminals activities. A car is modern tool which people use to travel from

one place to another. Criminals also use cars to rob people and to hijack them. The

suspects in this detective novel are influenced by setting to use a car while they are

acting criminally. This is because the car is the quickest means of transport that criminals

travel with rather than travelling by foot.

Robert Fingo also uses a modern tool, a gun, when he accidentally kills Richard's uncle,
 Page 87

Nndanduleni Ratshali, instead of killing his foe, Richard.

Mahamba (1989:95) says:

Ndivhoni ya hoyu munna, fhungo ndi la uri musi ula wa bono

la hodelani, o tuturuswa nga tshigidi, zwino na ene u fanela u

shumisa tshone.

(In the opinion of this man, the issue is that, that day of the

catastrophe at the hotel, he was awakened by a gun, now he

must also use it).

In this extract, we learn that Fingo wants to kill Richard by means of a gun and indeed he

uses it. Unfortunately, he kills Nndanduleni Ratshali instead of killing Richard. Guns are

weapons of modern times which criminals use to kill people. As these dangerous tools

are abundant in this modern time, it stands to reason that criminals can use them to

attack people for their own benefit. Setting in this detective novel has influenced Roberto

Fingo to use a gun in killing Nndanduleni Ratshali because he hides in the bush nearthe

stop sign at the Tshiulungoma crossroads.

The detectives, sergeants Muzila and Nedzamba, use guns when they arrest Roberto

Fingo after killing Nndanduleni Ratshali. This is revealed by Mahamba (1989:96) when

he says:

U farwa ha Roberto a ho ngo dina, ngauri ene a tshi sala a tshi

swika fuletheni, of wana o lindelwa. Naho hu uriene ho ngo

vhona muthu, hone o do ri a tshi khou honolola vothi, a pfa ipfi

Ii tshi amba nae murahu hawe, khathihi na tshithu tsho mu

 Page 88

dzulaho kha mutana.

(Fingo's arrest was simple, because when he reached his flat,

police were waiting for him. Although he did not see anybody,

when he was unlocking the door, he heard a voice speaking

behind him, and the gun resting on his back).

The object resting on Fingo's back is a gun. Police use guns while they are on duty. In

the pas, police used batons. Guns are of modern times.

Again Mahamba (1989:96 further says:

Vho-Muzila na Vho-Nedzamba vho do vhofha Roberto zwanda

nga tsimbi, vha konou dzhena nduni na mune wayo. U

dzhena ha vhanna avho hone, ho vha u nanisa mafhungo u

vhifha kha Roberto, musi ntha ha mmete mapholisa vho do

wana tshinwe tshigidi tshe tsha vha tshi Ishee tshiswa.

(Muzila and Nedzamba handcuffed Roberto, then they entered

the house with the owner. On entering, they found a new gun

on the bed, which made things worse for Roberto).

From this extract, the police use handcuffs when arresting Roberto Fingo. They also

found a new gun on the suspect's bed. Handcuffs and guns are modern tools.

In Nwana wa mme anga, a Mazda car with a canopy without windows is used to kidnap

the two women, Muofhe and Mutshinyani.

Mphaphuli (1974:8) says:

 Page 89

Maza ya dennde Ii si na mafasitere ya mbo di ima nga tsini

navho. Carole a mbo di vha sumba nga tshigidi tsha

vhukuma; hezwila zwituku zwa vhafumakadzi. Tshanda tsho

faraho tshigidi tsho vha tshi songo bva nnda ha bege. 0 tou

atamisa mulomo wayo uri vha kone u tshi vhona zwavhudi.

(A Mazda with a canopy without windows stopped next to

them. Carole pointed them with a small authentic ladies' gun.

The hand holding a gun was inside the bag. She opened the

bag so that they could see the gun clearly).

From the above extract, the suspect, Carole, used a Mazada car and a gun when she

kidnapped Muofhe and Mutshinyani. Cars and guns are modern time tools used by

criminals to carry out their criminal activities. The criminals or suspects in this detective

novel are influenced by the setting to use these tools because they are modern tools that

are mostly used by people in their daily life.

When Jack demanded that the police should release Julie's brother, Fhatuwani, from jail,

he uses a telephone to communicate his demand. The modern criminals use telephones

to threaten their people. This is revealed by the dialogue between Jack and Ndikandafhi

the Honourable judge of Thohoyandou in Mphaphuli (1974:15):

lpfi: "Vhathomphei, ndi vhone?"

Vhathomphei: "Ee, ndi nne".

"Vha a elelwa vhala vhathannga vho farwaho nga 1876 nge

vha pwasha bannga?". Ndi ipfi Ii vhudzisaho.

Vho-Ndikandafhi: "Ndi a vha elelwa vhukuma.

 Page 90

lpfi: Ri khou vha toda vhe nnda".

Vho-Ndikandafhi: "Nga lifhio na?".

lpfi: "Ndi zwa u rengululana".

Vhathomphei: "Hu rengulana nnyi na nnyi?".

lpfi: "Zwenezwila zwigevhanga zwina zwi re Vondwe zwi tshi

rengulula vhafumakadzi vhavhili.

(Voice: "Honourable, is that you"

Honourable: "Yes, it's me".

"Do you remember those young men who were arrested in

1976 for bank robbery?".

That is the voice that is asking.

Ndikandafhi: "I remember them very well"

Voice: 'They must be released".

Ndikandafhi: "On what grounds?".

Voice: "That is for an exchange"

Honourable: "Exchange for what".

Voice: "Those four criminals who are in Vondwe Prison in

exchange for the two women).

In the above dialogue, Jack is speaking with the Honourable judge of Thohoyandou by

means of a telephone. A telephone is one of the modern tools which criminals use to

communicate with their opponent by threatening them. As the setting of this detective

novel is of modern time, time influences Jack to use the telephone when he phones the

great Judge of Thohoyandou, Ndikandafhi, when he ordered him to release the four

prisoners from Vondwe prison. Telephones are the quick means of communication used

in this modern time.

 Page 91

A dangerous tool is also used at Mafangambiti's house in Messina where Frelimo kills

detective Tshihadu with a stilleto knife. Again at Mangwele Mountain, a fierce fight

between the police and Mukhakhisi's gang ensued. Guns are used by both the suspects

and the detectives. A number of criminals, Ganyani Makumbelo, Casanova

Madzungunye and Faraday Mukhakhisi are killed by the police while Julie, Jack and

Frelimo are arrested.

The tools that are used in both detective stories are of a modern time and they fit to be

used during this time. The knives, guns, means of transport, telephones are mostly used

during this modern time by the criminals.

In Bono la mboni, the three suspects use hands and fire to kill Thizwilondi whereas in

Nwana wa mme anga, Frelimo uses a knife to kill detective Tshihadu in Mafangambiti's

house in Messina.

In Both detective stories, cars are used by the criminals to carry out their criminal

activities. Roberto Fingo and his friends use a car with tinted windows in Bono la Mboni

whereas Carole and Jack use a Mazda car with a canopy without windows.

Guns are also used in both selected detective stories by both the criminals and the

detectives. In Bono la mboni, Roberto Fingo uses a gun to kill Nndanduleni Ratshali

whereas in Nwana wa mme anga, Carole uses a gun to kidnap Muofhe and Ndikandafhi.

The detectives, Muzila and Nedzamba use a gun when they arrest Robeto Fingo for the

death of Nndanduleni Ratshali in Bono la Mboni. In Nwana wa mme anga, the detectives

use guns to kill the criminals at Mangwele Mountain.

Telephone as a means of communication is used by Jack when speaking to the station

commander at Thohoyandou police station in Nwana wa mme anga. No telephone is

 Page 92

used in Bono la mboni.

All in all, the tools that are used in both selected detective novels suit the time during

which the events in these detective novels take place.

3.3 RESUME

The setting of both Bono la mboni and Nwana wa mme anga is Venda, in Hatshivhasa

and the sourrounding areas. Setting in Nwana wa mme anga extends as far as Messina

Township. The time during which the events take place in both detective stories is

modern time because we find crimes of murdering and kidnapping people. The criminals

use modern weapons like knives and guns to kill people.

In both selected novels, i.e. Bono la mboni and Nwana wa mme anga, setting had a

tremendous influence on the actions of the characters and tools authors used in the

development of action. The detectives' methods of investigation, the victim's life styles,

and the criminal's activities (actions) suit the place and time in which the events take

place. One can say that the setting in both selected novels has been well integrated with

plot and characters.

The following chapter analysis the depiction of characters in the two selected detective

novels.
 Page 93

CHAPTER4

4 CHARACTERISATION

4.1 INTRODUCTION

Characterisation is the device through which an author portrays the qualitiesof fictional

people in a literary work. A character's behaviour reveals what he or she is. Readers

come to know a character through his or her relation with other characters in a literary

work.

Mashiu (1994: 115) has this to say:

Characterisation embraces the manner in which the author

creates relationships among the various characters in his

work and the purpose for which they were created.

Characters are the principal materials from which a plot is created. Incidents develop

mainly through the speech and behaviour of dramatic characters. Therefore a story is

not a story without characters. Characters in a work of fiction influence events. The

Reader's Digest Southern African Word Power Dictionary (1996:164) defines character

as "a person in a novel or play".

Characters play an important role in a narrative because they are responsible for the

execution of the story. The create difficulties and sometimes resolve them at the end of

the narrative. Through dialogue with others, their actions and, lifestyle we can

understand a character better. A character plays an important role in the development

of a plot and theme of a narrative. Characters make up the central interest of many

dramas and novels. A writer know his or her characters thoroughly. He or she has to

have a clear picture of each one's look, speech and thought.

 Page 94

Meij and Snyman (1986:11) have this to say concerning characterisation:

Die mens in 'n verhaal is 'n belangrike komponent van die

verhaa/. Gewoonlik is dit een mens (of meer) wat aan die

ander mens (of mense) vertel wat 'n derde mens (of groep

mense) doen of wat met hulle gebeur. Natuurlik is daar

verhale wat handel oor diere en dinge, selfs fee en kabouters.

Hierdie verhaal onderwerpe het egter altyd menslike

eienskappe.

This extract reveals character as an important component of the story. In other stories,

animals are used as characters. This implies that characters may be persons or animals

in the story. The actions of a character reveal what he or she is.

Characters are distinguished according to the type of narrative. In social or historical

narratives, we distinguish characters as follows: the protagonist, antagonist and

tritagonist. In a detective story, characters are grouped in the following manner: victims,

murderers, suspects and finally the detectives. Most of the detectives in a detective story

are protagonists, murders are antagonist and victims are tritagonists.

Aristotle as cited by Sayers in Winks (1980:33) points out the qualities of characters in

the detective story as follows:

(i) ... they must be good: even the most wicked of them must be endued with

some human dignity for us to take them seriously.

(ii) ... they must be appropriate, a female must not be represented as being

clever.
 Page 95

(iii) ... they must be like reality: their mode of dress, language and behaviour

should not be overOexaggerated but should be those of normal people that

we interact with in daily life.

(iv) ... they must be consistent from first to last: the development of a character

should not bring about drastic changes. He should remain the person we

have always known from the beginning to the end.

This implies that characters in a detective story must have human dignity, be true to their

nature, their speeches and behaviour must resemble those we come across in daily life.

A character must not change from the beginning to the end of the story. Characters in

a detective story should be characters with personalities and traits that readers can

analyse and consider.

Hereunder follows a discussion of the victims, suspects (criminals/murderers and

detectives in a detective story.

4.2 CHARACTERISATION IN THE SELECTED NOVELS

The discussion will be entered on the depiction of the different types of characters in the

two selected detective novels. A comparison of the different types of characters will also

be made.

4.2.1 The Victims

Victims are characters in a detective story who are killed, raped and/or kidnapped. The

Lexicon Junior Dictionary for Southern Africa (1985:514) defines a victim as "someone

who suffers harm or injury".

 Page 96

From this extract one deduces that any person or character who is injured or harmed in

a detective story is a victim. In line with the above extract, the Reader's Digest Southern

African Word Power Dictionary (1996: 1278) has this:

"a victim is someone or something that suffers harm, death etc".

The quotation differs slightly from what the Lexison Dictionary says about the victim. The

Readers Digest Dictionary includes person and something in its definition, while the

Lexicon Dictionary does not. Something could either by an animal or any organism. If

someone or something suffers harm or death in a narrative, especially in a detective story

it is called a victim.

Auden, as cited in Winks (1980:19 has this to say regarding the victim:

The victim has to try to satisfy two contradictory requirements.

He has to involve everyone in suspicion, which requires that

he be a bad character; and he has to make everyone feel

guilty, which requires that he be a good character.

This means that a victim must be a person who makes other people feel pity for him or

her because of the circumstances which he or she is facing.

The above description suits Thizwilondi's character in Bono la mboni. She is the victim

in this detective story. The leads a corrupt life. Looking back to her early life, she is

brought up in a delinquent way. She is spoilt by her mother Eveline Silidzhi. Worse still,

she fell in love with different men from different backgrounds and cultures. This is what

makes her a victim of circumstances. This is revealed by Mahamba (1989:53) when he

says:
 Page 97

Ha Thizwilondi vhutshilo ndi vhunwe. Ndi musadzi

tshisidzana Thizwilondi; na u divha uri u na nwana,

Thizwilondi ha zwi divhi. Dzihodelani hu tolou pfi o wanala e

na munna wa mukene; vhanna vha hone hu tshi ambiwa

vhathu vha madzina, vhane muthu a nga a sa ri vhaambi vha

khou sokou diambela-vho. Ndi zwa vhukuma; vha

Thizwilondi vhanna a vha fheli; vharema, makhuwa na maasia

zwi sokou fana.

(Thizwilondi's life is strange. She is a girl who is always found

in hotels with different married men; respected men whom a

person cannot suspect. This is true, Thizwilondi's boyfriends

are of different nationalities, some being blacks, white and

others are Asians).

This reveals Thizwilondi's loose character. She does not keep one man. One can

conclude that she displays traits of being a bad person. Her unfaithfulness is revealed

when she falls in Jove with Roberto Fingo, Thomas Everson and Gilbert Tshirwa at the

same time. After these three men discover Thizwilondi's unfaithfulness, they decide to

end her life once and for all. Indeed they kill her after the music festival held at

Thohoyandou Stadium. Through the death of Thizwilondi, the author wants to warn

people against being unfaithful. Her bad traits make her to be killed by her boyfriends.

After her death, detection starts.

Thizwilondi is depicted as a beautiful girl who is liked by everyone. This is revealed in

Mahamba (1989:35 after her birth:

 Page 98

Nwana wa hone ho ngo naka zwone. Tsho mu nakisaho ndi

lukanda lutshena lwa khotsi awe, na mato mahulu a mme

awe. Nga nnda ha izwo, a zwi ho zwinwe zwo mu nakisaho

nga nnda ha u tou ri ndevhe dzawe dzo vha dzi songo dzhia

zwikwangwa zwa thohoni.

(This child is vel)I beautiful. What makes her beautiful is

being light-skinned like her father, and her big eyes which

look like her mother's. Beside that, there is nothing else that

makes her beautiful except to say that her ears do not

resemble her small head shells).

One can say that Thizwilondi's beauty attracts people from all walks of life. While she

was at school, teachers were very fond of her. Men like Roberto Fingo, Thomas Everson,

Gilbert Tshirwa and the American singer, Eddie Williams, are attracted by her beauty.

During the music festival held at Thohoyandou Stadium, Eddie Williams in Mahamba

(1989:3) says:

"Ndi a ni funa nwananyana"

(I love you girl).

This extract reveals Eddie Williams proposing love to Thizwilondi. Indeed, he is attracted

by her beauty. She falls in love with Roberto Fingo, Thomas Everson and Gilbert Tshirwa

simultaneously. These three friends do not know that they are all Thizwilondi's

boyfriends. After realizing that Thizwilondi is in love with Eddie Williams during the music

festival, the secret is revealed. The three friends decide to end Thizwilondi's life and

indeed they killed her due to her unfaithfulness. For this reason, Thizwilondi is the victim
 Page 99

in Bono la mboni. People appreciate her beauty but on the other hand they scorn her for

her loose morals.

Nndanduleni Ratshali is accidentally killed by Roberto Fingo while hunting for Richard in

this detective story. He is depicted as a victim of the situation. This is the way that the

author wants to reveal the perpetrators. However, the main victim is Thizwilondi as her

death contributes to the development of plot and theme. Thizwilondi's character

contributes to the development of this detective story because the story is centered

around her life and death.

In Nwana wa mme anga, Muofhe Ndikandafhi and Mutshinyani Ndifelani are victims.

These two women are kidnapped by Julie and Jack while they are on their way to the

optometrist at Makwarela Loction. Muofhe is the wife of Ndikandafhi the honourable

judge of Thohoyandou and Mutshinyani is the wife of Ndifelani a visitor from

Johannesburg. Julie and Jack kidnapped Muofhe and Mutshinyani with an intention to

threaten the honourable judge of Thohoyandou to release the four prisoners.

Mphaphuli (1974:3-4) has this to say:

Mufumakadzi wa Muhulisei vho vha vhe Vho-Muofhe

Ndikandafhi. Vho-Muofhe vho vha vha tshi dinwa nga mato.

0 vha a tshi tata u tshena ha bammbiri musi vha tshi vhala.

Zwino vhunga vho vha vhe mudedekadzi o vha a tshi vha

thithisa kha mushumo wavho. Fhezi kha maduvha enea ane

mafhungo aya a khou nwalwa ngao, vho no vha khwine

vhukuma. Mishonga i bvaho ngei kiliniki i re Makwarela yo

vha i khou sumba u zwi kona. Nga heli duvha (Lavhutanu) ri

vha vhona vha tshi khou onesana na mukalaha wavho. Vha

 Page 100

khou ya u fara thekhisi uri vha ye henengei Makwarela.

(The wife of the honourable judge Ndikandafhi was Muofhe

Ndikandafhi. Muofhe has a problem with her eyes. Her eyes

were not adaptable to the reflection of white paper when she

reads. As she was a lady teacher, her eyes disturbed her in

executing school work. During the narration of this story she

seemd to be much better. The medicine that she got from

Makwarela Clinic seems to be helpful. On that Friday, she

bids farewell to her husband and boards a taxi to Makwarela).

Muofhe Ndikandafhi is going to see the optometrist at Makwarela Location. On the way

she meets Mutshinyani who has a similar problem. They go together to Makwarela Clinic.

They are kidnapped near Raluswielo Secondary School. Julie and Jack hide them at

Mafangambiti's house in Shayandima. They disappear for a long period without knowing

where they are. That is why we regard Muofhe and Mutshinyani as victims in this

detective story. Their kidnapping contributes to the development of the plot and theme.

The whole story revolves around the detection of Muofhe and Mutshinyani.

Mafangambiti and his wife Mususumeli are also victims, as they are captured by

Mukhakhisi. Mukhakhisi and his gang go to Mafangambiti's home in Messina so that he

could show them his old house.

Mphaphuli (1974:58) says:

Magevhenga a dzhenisa Vho-Mafangambiti na mufumakadzi

goloini. Nndu ya lodelwa nga nnda ... Magevhenga a khou do

ita uri Vho-Mafangambiti vha sumbe hune Carole a vha hone.

 Page 101

Ndi uri nduni ya mukalaha ya Shayandima. Hune Carole a

vha hone ndi hune mufumakadzi wa Vho-Ndikandifhi na ula

munwe wa mueni vha vha hone.

(The criminals then got Mafangambiti and his wife into the car.

They locked the house, ... The criminals wanted Mafangambiti

to point where Carole is. That means the house of the old

man in Shayandima. Where Carole is, is where Ndikandifhi's

wife and the visitor are).

Here, Mafangambiti and his wife are captured by Mukhakhisi and his gang. Mukhakhisi

wants to capture Muofhe Ndikandafhi and Mutshinyani together with their kidnappers so

that they could demand R50 000 from the government. Indeed, they capture the two

women together with Julie and Jack, and hide them in the cave at Mangwele mountain.

The disappearance of Muofhe and Mutshinyani creates a big problem for the police and

their husbands. Their disappearence contributes to the development of action in this

detective story as the detectives start to track down the perpetrators.

The victim in Bono la mboni is a young girl, Thizwilondi, whereas in Nwana wa mme

anga, the victims are married women Muofhe and Mutshinyani. Muofhe is the wife of the

honourable judge of Thohoyandou Ndikandafhi and Mutshinyani is the wife of Ndifelani,

a visitor from Johannesburg. Thizwilondi is victimised because she does not lead a good

life whereas Muofhe and Mutshinyani are victimised because Julie wants to have her twin

brother Fhatuwani released from jail.

The victim in Bono la mboni lives with her parents. In Nwana wa mme anga, Muofhe and

Mutshinyani are married women living with their husbands. Nndanduleni Ratshali in Bono

la mboni is accidentally killed. In Nwana wa mme anga, Mutshinyani is also kidnapped

 Page 102

with Muofhe by Julie and Jack. In Bono la mboni, the victim, Thizwilondi, is killed by her

boyfriends whereas Muofhe and Mutshinyani are not killed in Nwana wa mme anga.

They are just captured and later freed by the police.

4.2.2 The suspects (criminals, murderers)

The suspects in a detective story are characters whom the police or detectives assume

that they are responsible for crime. However, police still do not have solid proof that such

people have indeed committed the crime that is being investigated. It may be a crime of

murder, kidnapping, rape, house breaking and the like.

Cawelti (1976:92) maintains that:

The goal of the detective story is a clear and certain

establishment of guilt for a specific crime. ... it is possible for

a detective story writer to create a complex and interesting

criminal but there must never be any serious question about

either the specific guilt or the evil motives of these characters.

In short, their motives may be complex and their actions

interesting, but they must always be definable as bad.

This means that in a detective story we find a detective who investigates a crime in order

to expose the perpetrators who are responsible for the crime. In Bono la mboni, Roberto

Fingo is a suspect, suspected by the detectives of being involved in the mysterious death

of Thizwilondi Silidzhi. Together with Thomas Everson, and Gilbert Tshirwa, he is in love

with Thizwilondi Silidzhi.

Robert Fingo, Thomas Everson and Gilbert Tshirwa are murderers in Bono la mboni.

They are all Thizwilondi's boyfriends. They killed Thizwilondi because of her
 Page 103

unfaithfulness. They are portrayed as a group of characters who are friends and who do

not diverge from what they have intended to do. As human beings, they become jealous

when they see another man with their girlfriends.

U dowelana ha Thizwilondi na Williams, ho vha honoho ha vho

seisanaho, vha dahisanaho fola. Hu hone u dowelana hawe

na munna uyo lwa divha, zwo tangana zwa ritha mbilu ya

Roberto Fingo. Roberto ene a tshi dinalea, o ralo nga hone,

ngauri khae a hu na munwe a funanaho na Thizwilondi nga

nnda ha ene. (Mahamba 1989:55).

(The relationship between Thizwilondi and Williams is that of

lovers, those who have sexual intercourse. Her one day

relationship with that man suddenly hurts Roberto Fingo.

Roberto was angry because he thought that there is nobody

else who is in love with Thizwi/ondi except himself).

The above extract shows that Roberto Fingo is angry after knowing about Thizwilondi's

love affairs with Eddie Williams. He is jealous of Eddie Williams.

After realizing that they are all (Everson, Tshirwa, Fingo) in love with Thizwilondi, they

decide to end her life because she is also in love with Williams.

Roberto Fingo is portrayed as a cunning man. This is revealed during the funeral service

of Thizwilondi Silidzhi. He is suspect number one in his group. His cunning is disclosed

in the dialogue between detective Nedzamba and Muzila in Mahamba (1989:23) when

Muzila says:
 Page 104

Hei, mafhungo haya a konda nga maanda. Nne ndi tshi mu

sedza a thi athu tou vhona zwavhudi tshi re tshone. U

vhofholowa hawe musi ri tshi amba nae vho hu vhona athiri?

Ndi henefha hune nda dzhenwa nga u timatima".

(Hey, this matter is too difficult. When I look at him I cannot

come up with the right answer (conclusion). Did you see how

relax he was when we talk to him? That is what makes me

doubtful).

In this dialogue detective Muzila is doubtful in his suspicion. He does not find it easy to

suspect Roberto Fingo of murdering Thizwilondi. This is because of Fingo's tactics of

staying calm at the funeral of Thizwilondi. He is so relaxed, free and fearless when the

detectives speak to him after the funeral service of Thizwilondi. This portrays Fingo as

a cunning criminal. Though he appears to be cunning, he is arrested under suspicion

because he is the last person who took the late from her home. Roberto Fingo's two

friends are also arrested. They spend three months in jail before they are prosecuted.

The court case is suspended due to lack of clear evidence. The suspects are finally

acquitted.

Mahamba (1989:21) maintains that:

Vhathu vha tshi khou balangana, ho do vhonala Vho-Silidzhi

vho ima na mapholisa mavhili, Vho-Muzila na Vho-Nedzamba,

vhe vha vhonala vha tshi nga vho vha vha tshi khou amba

mafhungo a sa dini zwone. Mapholisa vho do sala marahu ha

inwe goloi ye mune wayo a si fune zwa u yela mudini wa ha

Silidzhi naho khumbelo yo vha yo ralo.

 Page 105

(When people were dispersing, Silidzhi was seen standing

with two policemen, Muzila and Nedzamba and they appeared

to be discussing a sensitive matter. The police followed a car

whose owner did nto want to go to Silidzhi's home, although

people were requested to do so).

It is clear from the above extract that detective Muzila and Nedzamba, together with

Silidzhi (Thizwilondi's faither), suspect Roberto Fingo of being involved in the killing of

Thizwilondi Silidzhi. They escort him to the police station.

Mahamba (1989:24) further says:

Roberto Fingo o farwa; u farwa hawe hone ndi mafhungo a u

tou humbulela; hu tshi humbulelwa uri sa izwi e ene we a

fhedzisela u dzhia mufu hayani hawe, a nga vha e ene o itaho

mafhungo of vhifhaho.

(Roberto Fingo was arrested, his arrest is as result of being

suspected of killing Thizwilondi because he was the last

person to take the deceased from her home. Maybe he was

responsible for that terrible death).

Richard suspected Fingo to have killed his mother. He (Richard) hunts Fingo high and

low in order to kill him.

After the suspects have been given bail, Roberto Fingo and his friends do not rest. They

bribe the witnesses. The witnesses are visited during the night. This is revealed by
 Page 106

Mahamba (1989:68) when he says:

Maduvha a tevhelaho o do vha a bonyongo la musi Roberto

Fingo na khonani dzawe vha songo tsha vha vho lindelaho

duvha la mulandu fhedzi. Hu musi vhanwe vhathu vhe vha

vha vhe na thanzi dza muvhuso vho ri vha edele vhusiku,

hone u edela havho ho itwa nga vhaendavhusiku, vhe vha ri

vha tshi enda, vha ralo vha tshi vusa vhothe vhe vha vha vhe

dzithanzi, hu tshi lukwa mafhungo. Vhaiti vha mafhungo ayo

vho zwi divha uri arali thanzi dza nga tou fhambana kha zwithu

zwituku, axennde u do amba dzo oma henefho, izwo hu do

vha u naka kana u vhifha ha mafhungo. Vhaiti vha zwithu

izwi, vho ralo vha tshi shumisa tshelede, nahone vha sa i

tshivhi.

(The following days were busy days when Roberto Fingo and

his friends were not only waiting the day of the trial. The state

witnesses did not even sleep. This was caused by the night

travellers who were visiting and waking up all those who were

witnesses, trying to confuse the matter. These people knew

that a slight difference in their evidence will be exploited by the

lawyer, and this will cause the matter to become good or bad.

These people do this by using money extravagantly).

In the above extract, Fingo and his friends bribe and cheat the state witnesses during the

night by using money. These tactics of modern times are used by criminals. Mahamba

depicts Robert Fingo, Thomas Everson and Gilbert Tshirwa as real criminals who are

found in real situation.

 Page 107

Apart from this, Gilbert Tshiiwa falls in love with Thizwilondi's younger sister

Ntshengedzeni. This is done to bribe Ntshengedzeni and her parents not to give

evidence against Gilbert. The three culprits appear to be succeeding in bribing the state

witnesses in order to destroy evidence that may be used against them.

After killing Nndanduleni Ratshali, Robert Fingo proves himself to be a coward because

of his shouting. This is revealed in Mahamba (1989:95) when he says:

Goloi i tshi fhungudza luvhilo, i tshi da nga qwituku tshitoponi,

Fingo a vha a tshi latela nga mbili gulu nga henengei ho

dzulaho ane a si khou reila. Mupondwa a tshi khou tavha

mukosi, Fingo a vha a tshi tavha wawe-vho, a tshi ri,

"Thizwilondi" Fingo a ralo a tshi vho shavha, u shavha lwa u

tou pwasha na mataka.

(When the car reduced speed, coming slowly to a stop, Fingo

fired two bullets on the passenger seat. While the victim cried,

Fingo also cried, saying "Tshizwilondi!" Fingo did this while he

was running, running fast to the bushes).

This proves that, though Fingo is a criminal, he is also a coward on the one side. He ran

an cried after killing Ratshali. But on the other side Fingo proves to be a strong-minded

individual. He defeats Richard when the latter tries to threaten him with an object at

Venda Sun Hotel in the toilet. Richard suspects Fingo to be responsible for the death of

Nndanduleni Ratshali by his voice. As a result, Fingo is arrested and revealed all the

information which also leads to the arrest of his two friends Thomas Everson and Gilbert

Tshiiwa. Their actions and way of life make the police suspect them.
 Page 108

Though the three criminals try by all means to complicate the evidence, they are finally

arrested and never defeat the law. Fingo is sentenced to life imprisonment and Thomas

Everson and Gilbert Tshirwa are sentenced to serve 15 years in jail.

Robert Fingo in this detective novel is portrayed as a leader of the group. He plays an

important role in criminal activity. Thomas Everson and Gilbert Tshirwa are followers.

Though the main line of the story is attached to Robert Fingo, all of them act a a group

of criminals and murderers.

In Nwana wa mme anga, Mafangambiti's twin children Fhatuwani and Julie are suspects.

After receiving a telephone call that instructed the honourable judge of Thohoyandou to

release the four prisoners who were kept in Vondwe prison, detective Tshimangadzo

Mavhone went to the prison to interrogate the four prisoners. Detective Tshimangadzo

Mavhone suspects Alphonso Fhambanani.

In Mphaphuli (1974:30) detective Tshimangadzo Mavhone says:

"Nne !shine tsha kha di nndina na u sa mpfusha ndi faela ya

houla a no pfi Alphonso Fhambanani". Ndi Vho-Mavhone vha

ambaho vha tshi khou tshimbila-tshimbila na luvhande. Vha

dovha vha isa phanda. "Ndi na lumuya nae houla muthannga.

Kha vha vhone, a hu na !shine rine ra divha nga hae nga

nndani ha uri ene mune u ri u pfi Alphonso Fhambanani.

Dzina la Tshitaliana o Ii doba ngafhi? Khonani dzawe ndi

vhonnyi? Basa yawe i ngafhi? Nne ndi humbula na zwauri

na dzina heli Ii nga di vha Ii si lawe hoyu muthu".

"(/am worried and unsatisfied by Alphonso Fhambanani's file,"

 Page 109

says Mavhone who is speaking while walking aimlessly in the

arena. He further says, "I suspect that young man, Just look,

there is nothing we know about him except that he is called

Alphonso Fhambanani. Where did he get this Italian name?

Who are his friends? Where is his ID? I also think that even

this may not be his name').

From the above extract, it is obvious that Tshimangadzo Mavhone suspects Alphonso

Fhambanani of having some knowledge about the kidnapping of Muofhe and

Mutshinyani. He is suspected because of his Italian name and the police do not have

records in his file. Indeed, his twin sister, together with Jack, are the ones who are

threatening the police by telephone to release the four prisoners at Vondwe prison. After

discovering FHS abbreviations on Alphonso Fhambanini's necklace, the police get on

with their investigation.

Julie, her brother Fhatuwani (Alphonso Fhambanani) and Jack are suspects in this

detective story as Julie and Jack are involved in the kidnapping of Muofhe and

Mutshinyani in order to have Fhatuwani and other three prisoners released from jail.

In Nwana wa mme anga, there are two groups of criminals who are kidnappers. The first

group is that of Julie and Jack, and the second one is that of Mukhakhisi and his gang.

The first group of Julie and Jack is a group of kidnappers who want Julie's brother to be

released from Vondwe prison. Julie depends on Jack who is a notorious criminal. She

is depicted as a beautiful women who is well-behaved. She is also a lady teacher by

profession.

Mphaphuli (197 4:4) describes Carole as follows:

 Page 110

Carole o vha e musidzana o dzikaho, o nakaho na u linganela

zwo fanelaho vhasidzana. 0 vha o fhumulesa lwe na vha ni

si nga si sokou mu wela nga ntha. Musidzana hoyo ngoho o

vha e na mikhwa nahone o funzea. Mikhwa yawe yo vha i

tshi sumba uri o alutshela mudini u re na mulayo.

(Carole was a cool girl, a beautiful and of medium size. She

was cool and not easily approachable. She was we/1-

behaved and was educated too. Her behaviour shows that

she was brought up in a wet disciplined family).

From the above extract, it is clear that Carole is not a criminal by nature, she engaged

herself in criminal activity to have her brother, Fhatuwani, released from jail. To achieve

her aim, she asked Jack, a fearless criminal, to help her.

Carole is also characterised as a women who is good at pretending. She attracts Jack

by her beauty and smile. She knows how to cheat men.

Mphaphuli (1974:5) says:

Mbiluni yawe Jack o vha a tshi humbula uri Carole u a mu

funa. Kha Carole zwo vha zwi songo ralo. Carole o vha a

khou tou diitisa. 0 vha a tshi khou toda uri Jack a mu thuse

nga zwinwe zwipida zwa kushumo kwawe (Carole) zwine zwa

toda tshanda tsha munna a sa ofhi.

(Jack in his heart thought that Carole loved him. To Carole it

was not like that. Carole was pretending. She wanted Jack
 Page 111

to help her in some of her duties that need a brave man).

That is why Carole devoted herself to Jack as she needed help. She is a widow. She

loves her twin brother Fhatuwani who is locked up in jail. That is why she is trying to have

him released from jail.

She dresses like a modern woman. They she kidnapped Muofhe and Mutshinyani, she

was wearing dark glasses and a wig. This is revealed in Mphaphuli(1974:8) when the

narrator states:

Vhafumakadzi vha tshi swika tsini na gethe ya u dzhena

tshikoloni tsha Raluswielo, Carole a mbo sendela tsini havho

o di ambara ngilasi ntswu na wigi.

(When the women reached the gate of Raluswielo School,

Carole approached them wearing dark glasses and a wig).

The author depicts her as a criminal by means of her appearance because the dark

glasses and artificial hair change her appearance to be a different person. She is brave

and courageous. This can be seen in Shayandima when Frelimo entered the old house.

In Mphaphuli (1974:70), Julie says this to Frelimo:

"Thetshelesani. Hu na minango miraru i dzhenaho kha idzi

dzinwe kamara. Zwenezwo Frelimo no tingwa. Rine ri khou

ni vhona. lnwi a ni koni u ri vhona. Phanda hanu, murahu

hanu na matungo anu hu na vhathu. Ndo vha ndi tshi do vha

 Page 112

ndo no ni vhulaya. Zwino ndi khou ni tshidza uri ndi divhe uri

Vho-Mukhakhisi vha nga vha vha tshi toda mini kha zwa

hashu vha songo rambiwa. Posani tshigidi fhasi. Posani

zwino".

("Listen. There are three enterances into this room.

Therefore, you are surrounded, Frelimo. We see you but you

cannot see us. There are people all around you. I could have

killed you a/ready. Now, I am rescuing you so that I could

know the intent of Mukhakhisi in intervening in this matter.

Throw your gun down. Throw it down no'}.

This extract indicates Julie's bravery. She is not a coward. She disarmed Frelimo when

he entered the old house with Jack in Shayandima. But eventually, Mukhakhisi and his

gang defeat her.

Though she reveals a criminal character, Julie knows how to handle people. This is

seen when she does not ill-treat the victims, Muofhe and Mutshinyani, at Shayandima.

As a decent human being, she eventually pleads before her parents for the wrongs that

she has done, when she abandoned them and got married in Botswana without her

parents' permission.

Jack on the other hand is depicted as unmarried criminal who is ugly and brave.

However, he is not wise.

Mphaphuli (197 4:5) says:

Jack hoyu we a vha a khou amba na Carole u tou pfi Jack

 Page 113

Maora. Muthannga hoyu naho zwa vhutali zwi songo tou

ingwa khae, zwe a vha a tshi toda o vha a tshi ita a tshi zwi

wana nga khani. 0 vha e na mbiti dzinwe dze dza vha dzi tshi

nga ri u mu fara a si tsha kona u amba.

(Jack, who was speaking to Carole is Jack Maora. Though

this young man is not wise, he uses force to get whatever he

wants. He is short-tempered and if he is angry he cannot even

talk).

From the above extract, one may associate Jack with the type of a criminal who is strong

and brave. Because of his bravery, he becomes proud in such a way that he uses power

of force to get whatever he wants. This is the reason why Carole associates herself with

this type of a criminal. She thinks that Jack will use his power to force the police to

release her twin brother, Fhatuwani, from jail.

Again, Jack is characterised as a type of criminal who is easily deceived by women. He

is so stupid that he cannot see if he is deceived by a lady. This is a type of man, that

ladies like to exploit. They can use such men as tools in order to reach their goals. No

wonder when Julie uses Jack in her plan to release Fhatuwani from jail, it is because

Jack is not wise. When Carole and Jack are talking about the four prisoners who are in

Vondwe prison, Jack becomes emotionless. Carole attracts him by showing him her

breasts.

Mphaphuli (1974:61) says:

Carole a tshuwa. Kani-ha zwa u amba nga ha zwivhotshwa

o zwi nanisa? A mbo tavhanyedza a difara. Zwenezwo vho

 Page 114

di lavhelesana na Jack, Carole a gunublula gunubu dza rokho

yawe. Musi a tshi swika kha ya vhuraru u bva mukoloni, mato

a Jack a vha a si tsha huma. Naho hu uri Jack thungu ha ngo

i vhona, vhutete na u dala ha tshivhumbeo tshao o tou zwi

vhona zwavhudi.

(Carole was afraid. Maybe she was sometimes speaking

excessively about the prisoners? Suddenly, she contained

herself When they were looking at each other, Carole

loosened the buttons of her dress. When she reached the

third button from the neck, Jack's eyes were attracted. Even

though Jack did not see the nipple, he had clearly seen the

freshness and broadness of the breast).

Jack is a man whose heart is easily won by women. Carole uses this tactic because she

knows Jack very well. She has already studies his weak and strong points. The actions

of Carole make Jack confident that Carole loves him. This type of criminal is found in real

life.

Another group of criminals in this detective story is that of Mukhakhisi and his gang. This

group comprises of four people, namely, Mukhakhisi as the leader of the group, Frelimo

Mutingat, Casanova Madzungunye and Ganyani Makumbelo. These three criminals were

released from jail by Mukhakhisi by paying for their fines so that the could help him in his

criminal activities. Mukhakhisi's group comprises of people who know different crime

techniques. Frelimo Mutingati is an expert in throwing knifes even if he is far away from

the opponent. Cassanova Madzungunye likes women very much. But he is selective.

He loves women married to rich men who will give him money. Fanyani Makumbelo is

an expert in forging signatures on cheques.

 Page 115

Indeed, Mukhakhisi and his gang captured the two women and their kidnappers.

Mukhakhisi, while talking to his members in Mahamba (1974:45) says the following:

Tshelede vhathannga ndi hone ro i wana. Havho vhathu vho

habeledzaho vhafumakadzi havho vho tou da nga tshifhinga

tsha musi tsho fhefhuwa. Rine ri toda hu re na vhasadzi

havho. Ra vha wana ri vhulaya vho shavhaho navho.

Vhafumakadzi vha dzhiiwa nga rine. Rine ri toda tshelede.

Ri i toda kha muvhuso. Ra kundwa hafha ri nga si tsha do

dovha ra kona u ita tshelede. Ri fanela u vhidza tshelede

vhukuma, R50 000,00. A si tshithu tshelede heyo arali

muvhuso wa pfesesa zwine ngayo wa do vha u khou

rengulula.

(Gentlemen, now we have found money. Those people who

have kidnapped those women did so at the right time. We

want to know the place where the women are. If we find

them, we kill those who kidnapped them. Those women

should be taken by us. We want money. We want it from

the government. If we fail, we will never get a chance to

make money. We must demand a Jot of money, R50 000, 00.

It is not a Jot of money if the government realises what we

have to offer in exchange).

Here, Mukhakhisi is planning with his members to kidnap Muofhe and Mutshinyani who

have been kidnapped by Julie and Jack. They want to recapture these women so that

they could demand a lot of money from the government. This gang of criminals is after

money. Mukhakhisi's gang is tough and strong. This can be seen in Messina when the
 Page 116

police (detective Tshimangadzo Mavhone and Tshihadu) meet Mukhakhisi's gang in

Mafangambiti's house. Mukhakhisi's gang defeats the police.

Mphaphuli (1974:58) says:

A ho ngo vha na zwinwe. Vho-Mavhone na Vho-Ndifelani vho

mbo di vhofhelwa zwanda murahu. Nga ngomu milomoni

yavho ha dzheniswa dzidugu. Nga nnda ha milomo ha

shatelwa nga mabannditshi mahulu. Vha iswa nduni ya u

edela. Vha Jadzwa fhasi kha fuloro. Na milenzhe yavho ya

vhofhiwa.

(There was nothing else. Mavhone and Ndifelani had their

hands tied at the back. Handkerchiefs were put in their

mouths. Their mouths were sealed with big bandages. They

were taken to the bedroom and were made to lie down on the

floor. Their legs were also tied).

This indicates Mukhakhisi's victory. He defeats the police who were tracking the culprits.

Detective Tshihadu Jost his life. Mukhakhisi's gang takes Mafangambiti and his wife to

their old house at Shayandima where the two women are kept. This is really a strong

group of criminals. They capture the two women together with their kidnappers, Julie and

Jack, and hide them in the cave at Mangwele mountain. Eventually, they are defeated

by the police afer a fierce fight.

In Bono la mboni, there is one group of criminals. It comprises three gentlemen, namely;

Roberto Fingo, Thomas Everson and Gilbert Tshirwa. In Nwana wa mme anga, there are

two groups of criminals, namely; the group of Julie and Jack and that of Mukhakhisi and
 Page 117

his gang. The group of Julie and Jack is captured by the group of Mukhakhisi which is

after money in Nwana wa mme anga where in Bono la mboni, Fingo's group is never

captured by any other group of criminals. Criminals in Bono la mboni are murderers

while, in Nwana wa mme anga, the two groups are kidnappers. Both groups in the two

detective stories use guns in their criminals activity.

Fingo and his friends were acquitted twice in court because they bribed the prosecutor

with R20 000,00 in Bono la mboni. In Nwana wa mme anga, Mukhakhisi's criminal gang

kidnapped the two women in order to demand R50 000,00 from the government. Fingo,

Thomas and Gilbert are finally arrested by the police in Bono la mboni. Julie, Jack and

Frelimo are also arrested. All in all, the criminals never defeat the law in either of the two

detective novels.

4.2.3 The detectives

The Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English (1987:278) defines detective as "a

person, especially a policeman, whose job is to find out information that will lead to

criminals being caught. "This implies that characters who are investigating crime in a

narrative are referred to as detectives. Their investigations do not end unnecessarily, at

the end the criminals are arrested and punished.

The detective is the most important character whose main function is that of detection.

He or she is the hero or heroine in the story. He or she investigates the crime in order

to track down the culprits. Hence Auden, as cited in Winks (1989:21), says the detective

must be "either the official representative of the ethical or the exceptional individual who

is himself in a state of grace".

The work of the detective is difficult because he or she should maintain the state of grace

in which the aesthetic and the ethical are one. He or she does this in opposition to the
 Page 118

criminals. Professional and amateur detectives are distinguished in a detective story.

An amateur detective lacks know-how. In other words, he or she does not use scientific

methods in his or her detection. This lack of know-how makes him or her livelier th an the

professional detective because he or she does not follow scientific methods in the

detection of crime. Mason, as cited by Stewart (1980:25), believes that "the detective

must be an outstanding person: actual, picturesque, amusing, a creature of power and

singularity".

This means that a detective should have an outstanding character traits and his aim

should be that of bringing the culprits to justice without material gain. He is an interesting

figure in a detective story who causes people to laugh. His work is to investigate the

crime in order to find out the perpetrators. Hereunder follows an examination of how the

two authors under review have depicted their detectives. The detective's actions and

words, and what other characters say of him or her, will be considered.

In Bono la mboni, two detectives investigate the crime of the death of Thizwilondo.

These are detective Nedzamba and Masutha. These are under the senior police Muzila.

Detective Sergeant Muzila is the one who is handling the case of Thizwilondi's death, but

he leaves it to the hands of his assistant detectives, Nedzamba and Masutha. Detective

Nedzamba is portrayed as a man who is intelligent. Whenever they experience

difficulties he is always able to shed light.

Mahamba (1984: 16) says this:

Tshedzanyana tsho bva na Vho-Nedzamba vhe vha bvisa

muhumbulo wa uri khonani dza mufu dzi vhe dzone dzi

thomaho u sedzuluswa. Dzi re khonani dza musadzi-wa-

vhane dzone, vha nga dzi divha fhedzi nga u tou kwama
 Page 119

vhabebi vha mufu.

(Nedzamba brought little light when he suggested that the

deceased's friends should be contacted first. The fate's

friends would be known by contacting her parents).

This is a good suggestion. This reveals Nedzamba as a detective who knows his duty.

He knows how to investigate a case. He has effective scientific strategies for detecting

a crime. Though these detectives work as a team, they have different potentialities and

attitudes. Detective Muzila is also characterised as a man who speaks with a harsh voice

and intimidates the witnesses when he seeks information related to the crime.

In Mahamba (1989:18), Muzila says:

"Hafhu vha zwi divhe uri arali vha ri dzumba hu do vha u bala

ha mafhungo. Vha a funa thuso yashu athiri?" Khofheni ha

Vho-Muzila musi vha tshi khou amba nyambo iyi, hu vhonala

ho finyekana hu na mitalo-mitalo.

("You must know that if you conceal information, this case will

be difficult to solve. Do you want our help?" While speaking

Muzila's face had wrinkles).

This is revealed when detective Muzila and Nedzamba interrogate Silidzhi about

Thizwilondi's disappearance. The wrinkled fact indicates the rudeness of detective

Muzila. He is a person who uses force to get information. When he asks Ntshengedzeni

about the disappearance of her elder sister, detective Muzila speaks with a harsh voice.

This is one of his traits. An investigator needs to be a person who speaks in a

 Page 120

commanding voice. This enables him or her to frighten the witnesses into revealing

concealed nformation about the crime.

During the funeral of Thizwilondi Silidzhi, the two detectives suspected Roberto Fingo.

Suspicion plays a very important role in the detection of crime. Even Thomas Everson

and Gilbert Tshirwa are arrested because they were suspected of being responsible for

Thizwilondi's death.

Mampuru (1986:163) says that:

In the detective story the reader does not know the truth at all,

one of the characters - the murderer does; and the detective,

of his own free will, discovers and reveals what the murderer,

of his own free will, tries to conceal.

In the detective story, the main interest of detection lies in finding out the true order and

meaning of events that have been partly unlocked and partly concealed. There is no way

that the detective could find the culprits except through suspicion and through the

consultative method.

Detective Muzila and Nedzamba triumph as characters from the moment we meet them,

in appearance, manner and style of their deductions. They prove to be great men who

are at the same time human.

Though the detectives are defeated twice in court because of bribery that the suspects

made with the prosecutor and the witnesses, they do not lose hope.

After the death of Nndanduleni Ratshali, Roberto Fingo is arrested by detective Muzila
 Page 121

and other two policemen. That is where Muzila is portrayed as a cruel man. While

interrogating Roberto Fingo to reveal the truth, he excessively hits him with heavy blows.

Mahamba (1989:00) says:

Vhosedzheni Muzila vho do sendela khae vho sinyuwa. Vha

tshi mu hasha nga mulatela, lwe Fingo a ita na u wa nga

tshitiko, vha ri khae, "jou dam". U ralo Vho-Abel vha lidza na

tsanwa, vha dovha vhe, "No mu vhulahelani jou fool?".

(Sergeant Muzila angrily approached him. He struck him with

the back of his hand. Fingo then fell down on his back and he

(Muzila) said to him 'Jou dom". After that, Abel says to him,

"you stupid" and further says: "Why did you kill her, you fool').

Here, Sergeant Muzila is hitting Roberto Fingo to get information about Thizwilondi's

death. Because of pressure, Fingo reveals all what he had done with his friends. As a

result Roberto Fingo and his two friends are arrested.

In Nwana wa mme anga, we find two detectives; namely, Tshimangadzo Mavhone and

Tshihadu who are investigating the kidnapping of Muofhe and Mutshinyani. These two

detectives are working under inspector Tshibuleni.

Through dialogue between Ndifelani and Tshibuleni, we learn that detective

Tshimangadzo Mavhone is gifted in criminal cases. Shibuleni trusts and relies on him in

detection of crime. When speaking to Ndifelani, Tshibuleni in Mahamba (1974:17) says:

Tsha u thoma ndi khou humbula uri pholisa Tshimangadzo a

 Page 122

ye hangei dzhele ya Vondwe. Vho-Mavhone vha na mpho ya

u tumbula zwithu. Vha fanela u sengulusa zwivhotshwa izwo

zwina.

(Firstly, I have an opinion that detective Tshimangadzo must

go to Vondwe prison. Mavhone has a gift of discovering

things. He must conduct an investigation about the four

prisoners).

We know a character by means of a dialogue, actions and through what he or she says

or others say about him or her. Through the dialogue of Tshibuleni and Ndifelani, we

come to know that detective Mavhone has potential and skills of investigating crime.

Muofhe and Mutshinyani's kidnapping in this detective story provides the puzzle which

Tshimangadzo Mavhone must unravel and its complexity ensures engagement of an

intellect. This could be achieved by detection.

In their detective engagement, Tshimangadzo Mavhone and Tshihadu use a fixed pattern

to establish who the kidnappers could be. He pays a visit to the four prisoners in

Vondwe, he goes to Futelela High School to find out whether Fhatuwani has attended

that school, after that he pays a visit to Fhatuwani's parents in Messina to investigate

about Mafangambiti's children until he finds them at Mangwele Mountain. All these are

procedures followed in the investigation of a crime by Tshimangadzo Mavhone and

Tshihadu.

Detective Tshimangadzo Mavhone is also depicted as a man who knows to defend

himself both by a gun and karate. This revealed during a fierce fight between

Mukhakhisi's gang and the police at Messina.

 Page 123

Mphaphuli (1974:57) says:

Musi Frelimo o no vha tsini navho, Vho-Mavhone sa munna

mudivha karate vha diposa khae sa tshipiringi. Milenzhe

yavho ya rwa khana ya Frelimo. Ene a tuwa sa borne yo

rithwaho nga nzhini ya dzhethe. A swika a zhaka Ganyani

vhuvhili havho vha dala fhasi. Tshigidi tsha wela kule.

(When Frelimo was close to him, Mavhone as a karate man

threw himself on him like a spring. His legs hit Frelimo's

chest. Frelimo went down like a bomb ejected from a jet's

engine. He fell on Ganyani's body and both fell down. The

gun fell far away from him).

From the above extract Mavhone is depicted as a man who knows karate. His skills of

karate can be seen when he kicked Frelimo in Mafangambiti's house. Unfortunately, his

co-worker detective Tshihadu was killed by Frelimo with a knife.

After detective Tshihadu's funeral, Tshimangadzo Mavhone gets on with tracking down

the culprits. This shows that he is a courageous an brave detective who does not want

crime to prevail in the society. Though he is brave, when things are difficult, he seeks

help from other police. Through the help of other detectives, Tshimangadzo Mavhone

succeeds in arresting the perpetrators. But some of the perpetrators lost their lives during

the fierce fighting at Mangwele Mountain.

In Bona la mboni, two professional detectives are detecting the crime of the killing of

Thizwilondi Silidzhi. These are detective Muzila and Nedzamba. While in Nwana wa

mme anga, we also find two professional detectives who are investigating the crime of
 Page 124

the kidnapping of Muofhe Ndikandafhi and Mutshinyani. They are detective

Tshimangadzo Mavhone and Tshihadu. Detective Muzila is depicted as a leader of the

investigating team in Bono la mboniwhereas detective Tshimangadzo Mavhone is also

depicted as a leader of the investigating team in Nwana wa mme anga. Both detectives

are skillful in the two selected detective stories. All of them use consultative method to

find the clue that will lead them to the arrest of the criminals.

Detectives Muzila and Nedzamba are helped by an ordinary person, Richard in their

investigation to arrest the criminals in Bono la mboni whereas detective Tshimangadzo

Mavhone is helped by other police to arrest the criminals. Both detectives in the two

selected detective stories have succeeded in arresting the criminals.

4.3 ReSUMe

In this chapter the depiction of the victims, suspects, murderers and detectives as

characters in the detective story have been analysed. Thizwilondi as a victim in Bono la

mboni is killed by her boyfriends Roberto Fingo, Thomas Everson and Gilbert Tshirwa.

Detectives Muzila and Nedzamba engage themselves in investigating this crime. In

Nwana wa mme anga, Muofhe and Mutshinyani are kidnapped by Julie and Jack. As a

result, detective Tshimangadzo Mavhone and Tshihadu are called upon to investigate th is

crime.

The victim Thizwilondi has been well portrayed, for she satisfies to be a corrupt character.

Her unfaithfulness makes Roberto Fingo, Thomas Everson and Gilbert Tshirwa end her

life. Muofhe and Mutshinyani as victims are well portrayed in Nwana wa mme anga.

They fall victim of circumstances because they are kidnapped by Julie and Jack.

Concerning the suspects, both authors of the two selected detective stories have made

them clearly recognisable. They did not concentrate much on the description of the

characters, but on the important role they play. In as far as the detectives are concerned,
 Page 125

two professional and skillful detective are used in both selected detective stories. Both

authors use minimum description and plenty of conversation; that is why these stories are

so effective. Roberto Fingo and his friends in Bono la mboni are depicted as murderers

who know the when and how to kill a person. Jack and Julie; Mukhakhisi and his gang

in Nwana wa mme anga, are portrayed as skillful kidnappers who know how to kidnap a

person.

In as far as the characterisation is concerned both authors in the two detective novels

succeed in depicting the victims, suspects and the detectives.

 Page 126

CHAPTERS

5. CONCLUSION

The primary focus of this chapter is to look back and draw conclusions and findings on

the entire work. A comparative assessment of the texts will be made when rounding off

the contents in the previous chapters. Some recommendations and the future of

detective novel in Tshivenda will be highlighted.

The findings observed in this work are that there are few detective stories in Tshivenda.

Authors in Tshivenda literature are devoted to other types of novels. Only Bono la mboni

and Nwana wa mme anga in Tshivenda literature are real detective novels. Apartheid

played an important role in hindering the fast development of this type of novel in

Tshivenda literature. As South Africa has attained democracy, this type of novel is

expected to develop quickly and fast.

Looking at the background information of the authors of Bono la mboni and Nwana wa

mme anga, namely; Mahamba and Mphaphuli, one can find that they differ in great

respect. Mahamba is younger than Mphaphuli. There is a difference of 12 years in their

ages. Apart from that, Mahamba is a pastor whilst Mphaphuli is a teacher of a Primary

School. This could also lead to the differences in the themes of their narratives.

In as far as the plots of Bono la mboni and Nwana wa mme anga are concerned, both

selected detective novels are obsessed with plotting in two senses. In other words, they

consist of two stories, i.e. the metadiegetic story, which is a story of crime and the

diegetic story, which is the death of Thizwilondi in Bono la mboni and the kidnapping of

Muofhe and Mutshinyani in Nwana wa mme anga. Both crimes in the selected novels

cause a lot of problems for the families of the victims and the community at large because

the victims disappeared mysteriously. These crimes contribute in the development of

 Page 127

action in both selected detective novels.

The rising action concern the investigation of crime. In their detection, the police follow

clues to have the mystery solved. It is in this part of the plot of the detective story where

it is full of suspense, surprise and dramatic irony.

Another observation in the detection of crime of both selected detective novels is that the

detection in Bono la mboni starts in the middle fo the narrative. It does not start from the

beginning of the detective story. This is due to the fact that, the author delays

investigation of crime while giving a full explanation regarding Thizwilondi's early life. The

investigation in Nwana wa mme anga starts from the beginning of the narrative after the

kidnapping of Muofhe and Mutshinyani.

The climaxes of both selected detective novels are well handled. The climax in Bono la

mboni is reached when Roberto Fingo is arrested and reveals other perpetrators after

being ill-treated. In Nwana wa mme anga, the climax is characterised by a fierce fighting

between the police and the perpetrators at Mangwele Mountain. Both authors try their

best in this respect.

Concerning the ending of both detective novels, it is also handled in a good way. The

detective story in Bono la mboni ends when Carole and Jack are captured by the

detectives and Muofhe and Mutshinyani are rescued. There is great joy in both the

selected detective stories once the perpetrators are rescued. There is great joy in both

the selected detective stories once the perpetrators are arrested. In both detective

stories, mystery is resolves when the criminals are arrested and sentenced to jail.

Mahamba uses few instances of dramatic irony in his detective novel. This can be

realised when Thizwilondi falls pregnant and when Thizwilondi's boyfriends plan to kill her
 Page 128

after finding her love affair with Eddie Williams. These dramatic ironies help to develop

the plot this detective story. Mphaphuli in Nwana wa mme anga, uses dramatic irony in

many situations, i.e. when Carole pretends to love Jack, in Mafangamibiti's house and

the fierce fighting at Mangwele Mountain also occurs dramatically. Both authors handle

this aspect in a more than sufficient way, though Mahamba uses dramatic irony in only

a few instances.

In as far as the setting of these selected detective novels is concerned, Mahamba and

Mphaphuli uses Venda and its surrounding areas as the place of action. It seems as if

both authors are familiar with the country as they are born and bred in this country. The

time during which the events take place in the two selected detective stories is modern.

This is disclosed by the means of transport and tools used, the detective style of

investigating crime, the type of crime committed and the life of the characters as a whole

(i.e. victims, suspects and detectives).

There are other incidents in Nwana wa mme anga which one could harly believe could

occur in a country like Venda during the time which this detective novel is written. The

incident of Julie and Jack when hiding the two women, Muofhe and Mutshinyani in

Maangambiti's old deserted house at Shayandima is unbelievable.

Shayandima is a location with houses situated close to each other. When the community

sees people in the house which no longer has people living there, they might have told

the police to investigate them as the disappearance of Muofhe and Mutshinyani is

announced in the media (radio). For this reason, the author might have drawn his

inspiration from other books and forced incidents to occur in a Venda setting.

Concerning the characters we have observed that characters in a detective story are

grouped as victims, suspects (criminals) and detectives. This differentiates the detective
 Page 129

novel from other types of novel. The victims in both selected detective novels are

depicted convincingly. Thizwilondi in Bono /a mboni deserves to be a victim of

circumstance because of her corrupt life. Muofhe and Mutshinyani also deserve to be

victims in Nwana wa mme anga as they do not know the place they are going to.

Concerning the suspects in the selected detective novels, the authors do not concentrate

on their description by they are recognisable by the roles they play in both detective

novels. Roberto Fingo and his friends, in Bono /a mboni, complicate the evidence by

using financial bribe. This delays in the investigation helps to disclose these criminals

and they are finally sentenced to serve a jail sentence. In Nwana wa mme anga the

criminals' hiding delays the investigation more complicated. All suspects in both selected

novels never defeat the law as they are finally arrested and sentenced to a jail term.

In as far as the detectives are concerned, they are portrayed as professionals in both

selected detective stories. They investigate crime in a scientific and professional way.

They follow different steps and suspect people in order to identify the criminals. When

interviewed by the researcher, Inspector Mamuthubi of Siloam Police Station, who works

in the detective' section, says, "once a crime has occurred and is reported, the police or

detectives go to the crime scene and cordon off the area. If fingerprints and other

apparatus used by the criminals are found, they are taken to the laboratory for testing".

Inspector Mamuthubi's statement is in line with what Muzila and Masutha did in Bono la

mboni after the death of Thizwilondi. The place where Thizwilondi is found lying is

cordoned off and people are called to identify the corpse. A postmortem is also

conducted. All this indicates the detectives as professionals who know their job. They

are also delineated as detectives who have skills of fighting and arresting criminals.

As we have observed that detective novels are scarce, we would like to make a prediction
 Page 130

regarding their future in Tshivenda literature. Many authors of Tshivenda literature have

not devoted themselves too much to this type of novel. They may sometimes lack the

knowledge to write this type of novels. But once something has been done, everybody

can do it. Other writers will emulate and imitate the works of these two pioneers in

Tshivenda detective novels, Mahamba and Mphaphuli. This will increase the number of

detective novels in Tshivenda.

As detective stories first developed in countries like England, France and America, we

encourage authors of Tshivenda literature to read more Western books about the

detectives. They will acquire knowledge and skills to write this type of novel and as such

there will be an increase in the number of detective novels in Tshivenda. Apart from that,

it will help to eliminate the number of crimes that are being committed in this country.

In the past the detectives employed were not fully trained. We recommend that academic

requirements should be a prerequisite when employing detectives rather than

concentrating on their heir physical fitness alone. They should also undergo retraining

and attend more courses which will enhance the quality of detection. In South Africa, an

Academy for detectives has been opened. As there are only 304 detectives in South

Africa, the number will be increased as quickly as possible (Dullah Omar, SABC interview,

1998). This will make the information of detection accessible to the people and more

books about detection of crime will be produced. Together, both authors and detectives

will help to condemn the crime that is prevailing in this country.

All in all, Mahamba and Mphaphuli remain the pioneers of Tshivenda detective novels.

We encourage other authors to follow the trend of these two pioneers.

In conclusion, this story has been devoted to the analysis of plot, setting and

characterisation in the two detective stories in Tshivenda. It is recommended that future

 Page 131

researchers should examine other aspects of detective stories to enrich our literature.
 Page 132

BIBLIOGRAPHY

A. PRIMARY TEXTS

Mahamba, SN: 1989. Bono la mboni. Pretoria: Van Schaik

Mphaphuli, NM: 1974. Nwana wa mme anga. Johannesburg: Educum Publishers

8. REFERENCES CITED

Abrams, M H. 1993. Glossary of Literary Terms. 6th Ed. Fort Worth: Harcourt

Jovanovich College

Allen, D & Chacko, D. 1974. Detective Fiction: Crime and Compromise. New York: Hart

Court Brace, Javanovich, Inc

Blair, D. 1985. The Lexicon Junior Dictionary for Southern Africa. Johannesburg:

Lexicon Publishers (Ply) Ltd

Cawelti, J G. 1976. Adventure, Mystery and Romance: Formula stories as Art and

popular culture. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press

Daiches, D. 1981. The novel and the modern world. Chicago: University of Chicago

Press

Davis, K. et al. 1987. Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English. Harlow: Longman

 Page 133

Group UK Limited

Flower, H W. 1988. The Oxford Large Print Dictionary. New York, Toronto: Oxford

University Press

Grobler, GM M. et al. 1992. The only Study Guide for Mprose-9. Pretoria: Unisa

Hawthorn, J. 1985. Studying the novel. New York: Chapman and Hall Inc.

Krushnamurthy, R. 1994. Collins Cobuild English Learners Dictionary. London: Harper

Collins

Machiu, J Z 0. 1994. "Nneta Fela". Northern Sotho Detective story. A critical

evaluation. Unpublished M A Dissertation. Pretoria: Vista University.

Mafela, M J. 1993. The Elements of Fiction in the novels of T N Maumela. Unpublished

Doctorate Thesis. Pretoria: Unisa

Makgamatha, PM. 1992. The functionality of Character in the Northern Sotho Narrative.

South African Journal for African Languages, Volume 12.2

Mampuru, D M. 1986. Critical Assessment of Lenong la Gauta as a Detective Novel

(Story). South African Journal for African Languages, Volume 6, Supplement. Pretoria:

Unisa

McHenry, R. 1992. The New Encyclopedia Britannica, Volume 4. Chicago:

Encyclopedia Britannica Inc

 Page 134

1992. The New Encyclopedia Britannica, Volume 8. Chicago:

Encyclopedia Britannica Inc

1992. The New Encyclopedia Britannica, Volume 13. Chicago:

Encyclopedia Britannica Inc

1992. The New Encyclopedia Britannica, Volume 25. Chicago:

Encyclopedia Britannica Inc

Meij, Kand Snyman, N. 1986. Verhaal en Student. Pretoria: HAUM-literer

Meyer, N A & Baigernt, H. 1989. The secrets of studying English Literature. Cape

Town: College Tutorial Press

Mphahlele, LL. 1990. The detective novels in Northern Sotho: A comparative study.

Unpublished M A. Dissertation. Pretoria: Unisa

Porter, D. 1982. The pursuit of crime: Ari and audiology in Detective Function. New

Haven and London: Yale Univ Press

Powell, W. 1996. Reader's Digest Southern African Word Power Dictionary. New York:

Reader's Digest Association Inc

Prawer, S S. 1973. Comparative Literary Studies. Introduction. London: Gerald

Duckworth and Co Ltd

Raselekoane, N R. 1987. ES Madima's Prose. A reflection on characters and Melieu

with special reference to A SI ENE. Unpublished Honours BA Article. Turfloop: UNIN

 Page 135

Senna, J J & Siegel, L J. 1984. Introduction to criminal justice. 3rd ed. St Paul: West

Stewart, RF. 1980. And a/ways a detective. Newton Abbot: David and Charles Inc

Swanepoel, CF. 1980. The Gerald Visit: Impressions and Comments. South African

Journal for African Languages, Volume 2.3

1987. Only Study Guide for M-Drama. Pretoria: Unisa

1992. Only Study Guide for M-Drama-6. Pretoria: Unisa

Tapply, G. 1991. Law and Legislation. Croner: Kingston upon Thames

Walker, R G & Frazer, J M. 1990. The cunning craft: Original Essays on Detective

Fiction and Contemporary Literary Theory. Illinois Univesjity Inc '/

Winks, R (ed). 1980. Detective Fiction. (A collection of critical essays). New Jersey:

Prentice Hall, Inc. Englewood Cliffs

The World Book Encyclopedia. 1982. Volume 4. Chicago: World Book Chilcraft

International Inc

The World Book Encyclopedia. 1982. Volume 12. Chicago: World book Childcraft

International Inc

The World Book Encyclopedia. 1982. Volume 19. Chicago: World book Childcraft

International Inc
 Page 137

Limited

Palmer, J. 1978. Thrillers. London: Edward Arnold Ltd

Panek, LL. 1979. Watteau's Shepherds: The Detective Novel in Britain 1914-1940.

Ohio: Bowling Green Univ Press

Parrinder, P. 1980. Science Fiction: Its criticism and teaching. London: Methuen

Porter, D. 1988. Of Poets, Politicians, Policemen, and the Power of analysis. In New

Literary History Vol. 10 no 3 (Spring 1988). Baltimore, Maryland: Johns Hopkins

University Press

Scott, S. 1953. Blood in their ink. The march of the modern mystery novel. London:

Stanley Paul and Co

The mystery writer of America. 1976. Mystery Writer's handbook. Cincinnati, Ohio:

Writer's Digest Div, F and W Publishing Corporation