Lieutenant Borman killed Geel
Piet as an attempt to increase his control of the prison. Lietenant Borman’s
main method to maintain control was to intimidate the prisoners by abusing
them. This usually worked, and earned him the nickname Shit for Brains from the
prisoners. Lieutenant Borman wanted to specifically kill Geel Piet because of
his special status as a boxing instructor. Geel Piet had gained respect from
both the students and the other instructors for his knowledge and skillful
instruction of boxing. However, because he was a yellow kaffir, racism still
kept Geel Piet from obtaining much status. Being half kaffir, half white put
him at the bottom of the social order. This made it easier for Lieutenant
Borman to target him.
Peekay bonded with Geel Piet
over boxing, the smuggling of tobacco, salt and sugar into the prison, and
transcribing and sending the prisoner’s letters. Peekay also wasn’t racist,
unlike most of the people in that time. Peekay was probably the closest person
to Geel Piet. Seeing him dead greatly upset him. Captain Smit swore to avenge
Peekay. Captain Smit cared very little for a kaffir, but he did care about
Peekay. This lead to the interrogation of Lieutenant Borman by Captain Smit and
Klipklop in the boxing ring. Lieutenant Borman was beaten up and humiliated,
and a prisoner saw. Word of his humiliation greatly diminished his control.
Lieutenant Borman’s shrinking size and diminishing health symbolized his
decreasing power. Because Lieutenant Borman had shoved a donkey prick up Geel
Piet’s arse until entrails spilled, it’s fitting that it was rectal cancer that
was plaguing him. This is symbolic for the fact that when he killed Geel Piet,
Lieutenant Borman also killed himself.
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