Since Black South African citizens cannot find houses to buy or rooms to rent, they salvage wood and other items and build Shanty Town. White people photograph the shanties and residents for newspapers. The narrative takes the perspective of a woman caring for her sick child in Shanty Town. She tries to find a doctor, but the doctor does not arrive in time. The child dies, and the woman grieves alone.

While Kumalo waits to go to Shanty Town, he spends time playing with his nephew. He does not know what to say to Gertrude, but Mrs. Lithebe speaks with and tries to help her. Playing with his nephew makes Kumalo think about his son. As he contemplates where Absalom is, Msimangu arrives to take him to Shanty Town. In town, squatters tell the men that the government sent Absalom to a reformatory. They enter an office where a young white man sits. The man tells them that Absalom left because he wanted to marry a girl whom he got pregnant. He takes Kumalo and Msimangu to where Absalom and his partner live. The girl answers the door and tells them that Absalom left a week ago and never returned.