FLAWEDEdward Horner was born with a silver spoon in his mouth but the spoonis tarnished as he is psychologically abused by his father during his formative years.As a result of this abuse Edward loses his self esteem and self confidence. This has direconsequences in his later years as he squanders his inheritance due to his irrationaldetermination to prove himself. Edward's inability to confidently implement hiscreative ideas eventually leads to his financial downfall. Edward's marriage to Cynthiafails as he avoids the responsibilities of marriage and fatherhood. His relationshipsand the various enterprises that he establishes all fail as a result of his lack of confidencein his abilities and his failure to be forceful about his opinions. Frustration at hishelplessness and fear of failure become his constant companions. Coupled with thisis his failure to provide for his old age due to his incessant unrealistic imaginings ofsuccess and wealth. Dream follows dream until suddenlythere is no time for another dream.THE COLOURED CURTAINIn the early 1970s,, a nineteen-year-old black farm labourer, John Matlala,leaves the citrus farm in the Northern Transvaal where he'd spent hisentire life, and travels to Johannesburg to seek his fortune. Unable to achievehis goals by legitimate means, John teams up with a streetwise black petty criminal,Jimson, in the hope of finding the wealth he desperately yearns for, through crime.Initially the two young men prey on defenceless old people, pick-pocketing andtricking them, but as their greed grows they turn to armed robbery, resulting inthe robbing of an elderly Indian tailor with tragic consequences. Running parallel toJohn's story is the story of the privileged life of Herman Malan, heir to his latefather's steel construction business. The two stories merge when John andJimson attempt to rob Herman after he leaves the bank with the firm's wages.Jimson and Herman are both killed when the police intervene but John escapes.He flees to the huge black township of Soweto. Can John safely hidein this huge metropolis?
