The Corruption of a Spiritual Leader: An Analysis of Pastor Pfumela's Betrayal in Xitsonga Narrative Text.

Authors

  • Ndzalama Maluleke

    School of Languages and Communication Studies, Faculty of Humanities, University of Limpopo, Sovenga 0727, South Africa
  • Osborn Risimati Chauke

    School of Languages and Communication Studies, Faculty of Humanities, University of Limpopo, Sovenga 0727, South Africa
  • Moffat Sebola

    School of Languages and Communication Studies, Faculty of Humanities, University of Limpopo, Sovenga 0727, South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i12.9998
Received: 13 May 2025 | Revised: 12 June 2025 | Accepted: 16 June 2025 | Published Online: 6 November 2025

Abstract

Xitsonga literature is rich with many sensitive literary themes that highlight the Vatsonga experience about life and their understanding of social dimensions. Among these themes is corruption within the house of the Lord. This article examines the theme of corruption in Xitsonga literature through a literary analysis of the character of Pastor Pfumela from the drama Byi n' wi khele matluka by M. Malungana. Using a qualitative research approach, this article employs a literary analysis methodology to explore the ways in which corruption manifests in the text. The study draws on the theoretical framework of Rational Choice Theory to examine the power dynamics and moral implications of Pastor Pfumela's choices on corruption. The findings of this study reveal that Pastor Pfumela's corruption is driven by his desire for money and wants, such as cars and phones, and that his actions have far-reaching consequences for the community he serves. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the theme of corruption in the Xitsonga drama book Byi n'wi khele matluka and highlights the importance of moral leadership in African communities. It is recommended that religious leaders be held to ethical standards and that moral education be reinforced within communities. Further research is encouraged to examine how literature can be used as a tool for anti-corruption awareness and education in African communities and worldwide.

Keywords:

Corruption; Consequences; Literary analysis; Rational Choice Theory; Xitsonga Literature

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How to Cite

Maluleke, N., Chauke, O. R., & Sebola, M. (2025). The Corruption of a Spiritual Leader: An Analysis of Pastor Pfumela’s Betrayal in Xitsonga Narrative Text . Forum for Linguistic Studies, 7(12), 392–402. https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i12.9998

Issue

Vol. 7 , Iss. 12 (December 2025): In progress

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Article

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Copyright © 2025 Ndzalama Maluleke, Osborn Risimati Chauke, Moffat Sebola

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This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License.