Manie is the patriarch of the Swart family and the owner of a farm and a reptile park named Scaly City. He claims to have experienced a religious awakening after his daughter Amor was struck by lightning as a child. Despite this professed devotion, he frequently relies on the questionable advice of his religious guide, prioritizing his own comfort and wealth over his commitments to others.

Anton is the eldest Swart sibling. Stationed with a military unit during a period of intense national unrest, he carries heavy guilt over a fatal incident that occurred on his watch. He possesses an intuitive distrust of hypocritical authority figures, though his impulsive decisions often lead him into difficult living situations away from the family farm.

Astrid is the middle Swart sibling. Highly focused on social status, wealth, and her physical appearance, she constantly seeks validation through material purchases and advantageous relationships. She reacts with irritation to family complications and frequently looks for quick fixes to avoid doing the difficult work of self-examination.

Amor is the youngest Swart sibling and acts as the moral conscience of the family. A childhood lightning strike left her with permanent scars on her feet and a quiet, contemplative disposition. She holds a firm belief in doing what is right, dedicating herself to nursing and persistently advocating for her family to fulfill a long-ignored promise to their maid.

Salome is the Swart family's long-serving Black maid. She resides in a dilapidated three-room structure on the family property. Despite the immense labor she provides and the intimate care she gives to ailing family members, she is largely ignored as an individual by her employers. She maintains a quiet dignity in the face of systemic disrespect.

Marina is Manie's conservative sister. She fully embraces the rigid racial and class hierarchies of apartheid South Africa and shows little patience for those who disrupt her worldview. She treats domestic workers with condescension and generally acts as a harsh, unsympathetic presence during family crises.

Reverend Alwyn Simmers is a Christian clergyman who leverages his religious position for financial gain. He routinely manipulates Manie under the guise of spiritual tutelage, encouraging dangerous public spectacles to raise funds for his congregation. He lives a lavish lifestyle funded by his congregants.

Rachel is the matriarch of the Swart family. In her final months of life, she makes the controversial decision to return to her original Jewish faith, causing significant tension with her husband and his conservative relatives. Before succumbing to illness, she secures a vital promise from her husband to reward their maid's loyalty.

Lukas is Salome's son, a young Black man living and working on the Swart property. Having been expelled from school, he performs farm labor. He holds a deeply cynical view of the Swart family and their empty words, understanding the historical realities of land ownership better than his employers do.

Ockie is Marina's husband and a member of the extended Swart clan. He is a quiet participant in the family's conservative lifestyle, supporting his wife's rigid views.

Wessel is the son of Marina and Ockie, raised within the comfortable boundaries of Pretoria's segregated society.

Lexington is the Swart family's driver. He possesses a practical understanding of the dangerous political unrest in the country and tries to avoid driving through active riot zones.

Marcia is Rachel's sister. She honors her family's Jewish heritage and attempts to ensure her sister's final religious wishes are respected, despite heavy resistance from her brother-in-law.

Ruth is Rachel's sister. Manie specifically blames her for encouraging Rachel's return to Judaism, making her a target of his frustration.

Jake Moody is a businessman who originally enters Astrid's life by installing security systems. He eventually becomes romantically involved with her. He is prone to obsession when faced with unknowns and relies on his connections to powerful political figures.

Dean is Astrid's first husband. He attempts to maintain order in his household but remains largely unaware of his wife's deep dissatisfaction and secret affairs.

Andile is a young Black farm worker employed on the Swart property. He performs heavy manual labor alongside Lukas and serves as a direct observer of the family's physical decay.

Cherise Coutts is the Swart family attorney. She is responsible for executing wills and managing the legal stipulations that keep the family tied to their shared property.

Susan is Amor's companion. She shares a life with Amor away from the toxic environment of the Swart family farm, representing Amor's attempt to build an independent existence.

Father Batty is a Catholic priest who ministers to Astrid. He attempts to hold her accountable for her actions but frequently lets his own frustrations and physical comforts override his pastoral duties.

Desirée is a woman from Anton's youth who reconnects with him in adulthood. She romanticizes the idea of living as a farmer's wife but quickly grows dissatisfied with the isolated, unglamorous reality of the Swart property.

Moti is a meditation instructor who develops a close connection with Desirée. He introduces alternative spiritual practices to the household and occasionally oversees unusual memorial services.

Sylvia is a medium consulted to provide answers about hidden personal secrets. She offers vague, interpretive clues rather than definitive facts.

"Bob" is a generic name assigned by the narrator to a homeless man who cannot remember his own identity. He represents the country's marginalized and forgotten citizens who lack official documentation.

Payne is a soldier who once guarded the gate at a military camp. He serves as a reminder of the past for those trying to forget their military service.

Neil is the son of Astrid and Dean, born as a twin. He carries his father's surname rather than the Swart family name.

Jessica is the daughter of Astrid and Dean, born as a twin. Like her brother, she does not carry the Swart name.