Simon Hanabe
Simon Hanabe is a Black man working in the unmarked graves in the Shukuma squatter camp. Simon's task is to dig and mark graves using pieces of trash to ensure they are not dug twice. The author depicts Simon as a hard-working and honest man. In addition, Simon is welcoming, and he has a kind heart.
When Roelf comes to the Shukuma squatter camp to search for Red Doek's grave, Simon welcomes him. However, Simon warns Roelf of the potential danger because white people are not allowed in the unmarked graves. Simon welcomes Roelf into his shack, and they share a meal. Throughout the text, Simon is willing to help Roelf accomplish his mission.
Roelf
Roelf is the white train driver who accidentally kills a woman and her baby when she jumps into the railroad. The woman commits suicide, but her spirit haunts Roelf for the rest of his life. Roelf calls the dead woman Red Doek because she wore a red scarf at the time of death. After several days of ghost haunting, Roelf visits the unnamed graves to curse the ghost of Red Doek.
After Roelf arrives in the Shukuma squatter camp, Simon tells him that it is difficult to identify Red Doek's grave because all corpses buried there are unidentified. Later, Roelf bonds with Simon, and they become good friends. Roelf is a friendly person who feels comfortable interacting with Black people. While interacting with Black people, he realizes that they suffer from poverty.
Red Doek
Red Doek is a Black woman who commits suicide by jumping into the railroad while carrying her baby. The woman's spirit later starts haunting Roelf, the train driver. Roelf blames Red Doek for haunting his life because he never intended to kill her. After her death, Red Doek and her baby are buried in unmarked graves in the Shukuma squatter camp.
Mr. Mdoda
Mr. Mdoda oversees the unmarked graves in the Shukuma squatter camp. Mr. Mdoda employs Simon to dig graves and bury the unidentified bodies brought in daily. All the corpses brought to the graveyards belong to unidentified Black people. When police officers accuse Simon of Roelf's murder, Mr. Mdoda defends him. However, Mr. Mdoda sacks Simon for bringing him trouble.
