Following ten years in prison for nationalist activities, the South African Supreme Court eventually orders Shack Twala's release, but he is on the run almost immediately after an altercation with the police. Assisted by his attorney Rina Van Niekirk and visiting British engineer Jim Keogh, he travels to Capetown in an attempt to retrieve diamonds entrusted to a dentist in order to finance revolutionary operations. Major Horn of the South African State security bureau follows them along the route, but it becomes clear that he has no intention of capturing them until they reach their final destination.