Set amidst the sprawling Johannesburg township of Soweto, where survival is the primary objective, this novel traces six days in the life of a ruthless young gang leader. Confronted with memories of his own painful childhood, this angry young man begins to rediscover his own humanity, dignity and capacity to love.
Tsotsi is the only novel written by South African playwright Athol Fugard (1932–2025). It was published in 1980 although written some time earlier, and it was the basis of the 2005 film of the same name. It has been republished in several editions including in 2019 by Canongate (ISBN 978-1786896155).
