Characters
The Legae Family
- Mmapula
matriarch of the Legae family; wife of Dipuo and mother to the Legae siblings
- Dipuo
patriarch of the Legae family; husband to Mmapula, father to the Legae siblings
- Modiri
eldest of the Legae adult brothers and of all the siblings; runs his own small transport business, predominantly responsible for the family’s cattle
- Keitumetse
eldest of the Legae sisters; mother to Lorato; deceased
- Khumo
third of the Legae siblings and second eldest sister; mother to Boipelo, Tshepo, and Thabo; live-in partner of Mosimanegape
- Moagi
fourth of the Legae siblings and second eldest brother; a soldier; father of Kopano
- Kelebogile
fifth of the Legae siblings and third of the sisters; employed at a local NGO; mother of Tefo
- Kagiso
sixth of the Legae siblings and third of the brothers; preacher, driver, and shop owner
- Oratile
seventh of the Legae siblings and youngest of the sisters; mother of Lesego and Kenosi
- Tuelo
youngest of the Legae brothers and of all the siblings
- Lorato
eldest granddaughter of Mmapula and Dipuo; only daughter of Keitumetse
- Boipelo
eldest daughter of Khumo and Mosimanegape; older sister of Tshepo and Thabo
- Tshepo
second eldest daughter of Khumo and Mosimanegape; younger sister of Boipelo
- Kgosiemang
eldest son of Khumo and Mosimanegape; in his mid-teens
- Lesego
eldest daughter of Oratile; in her early teens
- Letlhogonolo
second eldest son of Khumo and Mosimanegape
- Kopano
only son of Moagi; in his early teens
- Tefo
only son of Kelebogile; in late primary school
- Mompati
second-youngest son of Khumo and Mosimanegape; in late primary school
- Thabo
youngest son of Khumo and Mosimanegape; younger brother of Boipelo and Tshepo
- Kenosi
youngest daughter of Oratile; in late primary school
- Mosimanegape
live-in partner of Khumo; father to Boipelo, Tshepo, Kgosiemang, Letlhogonolo, Mompati, and Thabo
Neighbours and Friends
- Rra Ditau
neighbour of the Legaes and builder; married to Mma Ditau, a distant maternal relative of Mmapula
- Pono
young woman; neighbour to the author and the Legaes
- Mpho
Pono’s older sister; resident in Maropeng
- Lesedi
friend of the Legaes; cousin (mother’s sister’s child, ngwana a mmangwane) to Tumi
- Tumi
cousin (mother’s sister’s child) to Lesedi
- Bonolo
young man from Dithaba; moved to stay with the Legaes
- Mma Dineo
distant relative of Mmapula’s; grandmother to three boys involved in the first formal fostering arrangement made in Dithaba
- Mmabontle
staff member from the local orphan care project; daughter of Tharo’s grandfather
- Tharo
young man from Dithaba initiated into the Matsosangwao mophato; grandson of Mmabontle’s father
Key NGO and Government Figures
- Thapelo
founder and coordinator of national non-governmental organisation specialising in retreats for orphaned youth
- Tsholo
coordinator of local non-governmental orphan care project
- Tumelo
village social worker for Dithaba
Open access