Who is the protagonist?

Phephelaphi is the novel’s protagonist. Though the reader does not learn about her life in a chronological order, the reader can eventually piece together a chronology of her life. Phephelaphi was born to a mother named Getrude, a sex worker who was killed by one of her clients, a jealous white police officer. After her mother’s death, Phephelaphi was taken into the care of her mother’s closest friend and another sex worker, Zandile. Phephelaphi eventually leaves Zandile’s apartment when she meets and falls in love with Fumbatha.