Throughout the novel, fear is a persistent emotion that continuously torments Stephen. He worries about his land, his son, Jarvis, and everything he encounters in the city. Every day introduces a new fear, with the most daunting being the thought that his faith might be futile. This fear takes on heightened significance at a crucial point in the narrative. After the Mission House learns of Arthur's death, the identity of the murderer is still a mystery. An air of dread envelops the atmosphere, and Kumalo confides in Msimangu, "Here in my heart there is nothing but fear...." Paton adeptly extends this fear to encompass humanity as a whole.

Chapter twelve opens with the line, "Have no doubt it is fear in the land," and Paton demonstrates this through snippets of dialogues among white individuals. The whites fear the blacks, and Kumalo is terrified that his son might be Arthur Jarvis's murderer, sparking the newest wave of panic in the city. There is also a tangible fear of the white man's justice system and the near certainty that Absalom cannot avoid execution.

As the novel concludes, Paton unveils his ultimate message. Through Kumalo, he suggests that fear is the primary reason Africa is neither joyful nor thriving. People, both white and black, are afraid of Kumalo, his wife, the young protestor, and Msimangu—worried that such individuals might stand confidently in the land, "free to use the fruits of the land," and sing Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika, God bless Africa.