Thematic Exploration Of Morality In The Post-Apartheid South Africa Through Kani’s Nothing But The Truth

Abstract

Although the transition into the post-apartheid South African theatre reflects the influence of the legacy of colonisation
in that some of the issues that the post-apartheid playwrights explore in their works are issues that evolve from the
apartheid era, there is a dramatic thematic shift from protest theatre to morality plays. It is this emergence of a new
form of thematic focus by playwrights in the post-apartheid South African drama that has prompted this study. Thus,
this study strives to explore the theme of morality in the post-apartheid South Africa through Kani’s Nothing But the
Truth (2002). It, therefore, utilises Morality as its conceptual underpinning. Qualitative approach which is undergirded
by exploratory research design was employed to guide the study. Kani’s Nothing But the Truth was selected from other
plays by the same playwright by means of purposive sampling. This was because of its relevance to the study. Thematic
textual analysis was used as a data analysis technique in the study. For (South) Africa to prosper as a nation, Kani
suggests that issues of adherence to principles of acceptable moral behaviour and conduct should be upheld by
strengthening existing accountability structures and establishing them where they are non-existent.