The author uses parallel narratives and thematic echoes to demonstrate how patterns of oppression and violence repeat themselves across generations, with both main characters experiencing similar forms of institutional confinement disguised as protection.

The title serves as a bitter irony, representing the false promises made by both the British authorities to Boer women and children, and the modern safari camp to parents of young boys. It highlights how assurances of safety can mask sinister intentions.

The novel uses historical events, particularly the Boer War and its concentration camps, as a foundation to explore contemporary issues in South African society, including masculinity, identity, and the lasting impact of historical trauma on modern institutions.