The Lottery Ticket is set in the rural areas of Natal, South Africa. The story is around two young Zulu boys who find a winning lottery ticket. Because of their ages and circumstances they are unable to claim the prize. Word soon gets out about the very substantial value of the prize money from a ticket which is in the possession of two destitute and barely educated boys; it arouses the scheming cunning of those ruthless adults in their proximity, determined to get their hands on the ticket. A dangerous pursuit of the boys, afraid for their lives, finds them way out in the wilds not knowing what to do but keep running till they are taken under the wing of a priest who has ideas of his own. Each chapter is headed by a well-known Zulu proverb.