Ronnie Kasrils's memoir reflects on compelling questions as to what turned a white youngster from a modest background into a life-long revolutionary of note. A tiny minority who abandoned a life of privilege were the antithesis of conventionality and toeing the line. What made those such as Kasrils break all the rules and confront white power
Set against the backdrop of a tumultuous 1963 South Africa, the story unfolds as the white state faces mounting pressure. The narrative begins with a dramatic police raid on Griggs bookstore in Durban, leading to the arrest of Eleanor, the manageress's daughter. This pivotal event highlights the tensions of the era and the personal struggles of those caught in the political turmoil, exploring themes of resistance and the impact of state oppression on individual lives.
Ronnie Kasrils's insights into Jacob Zuma, both shocking and revelatory, are vividly illuminated through this story--from their shared history in the underground to Kasrils's time as minister of intelligence and his views on South Africa now. This fast-paced, thriller-style memoir outlines the tumultuous years that saw Mbeki's overthrow and replacement by Zuma, Nkandlagate, the growing militarization of the police and the Marikana Massacre, the outrageous appointment of flunkies to high office, the "state capture" report and his relationship with the Guptas. We relive the Schabir Shaik corruption trial, Kasrils's relationship with Fezeka Kuzwayo (Khwezi), Zuma's rape trial accuser, the email and spy tapes saga, conspiracy, and betrayal. While Kasrils explains the enigmatic contradictions of Jacob Zuma, he also explains that corruption and the abuse of power did not begin with him. His story points to the compromised negotiations of the 1990s, which he refers to as a "Faustian Pact." This is a story told from the inside, exploring the many machinations of power and how one man's struggle for the truth can have such an impact on the political outcomes of a nation.
"We hear for the first time from internationalists who secretly worked for the ANC's armed wing, Umkhonto We Sizwe (MK), in the struggle to liberate South Africa from apartheid rule. They acted as couriers, provided safe houses in the neighbouring states and within South Africa, helped infiltrate combatants across borders, and smuggled tonnes of weapons into the country in the most creative of ways. Driven by a spirit of international solidarity, they were prepared to take huge risks and face danger which dogged them at every turn. At least three were captured and served long terms of imprisonment, while others were arrested and, following international pressure, deported. They reveal what motivated them as volunteers, not mercenaries, who gained nothing for their endeavours save for the self-esteem in serving a just cause. Against such clandestine involvement, the book includes contributions from key role players in the international Anti-Apartheid Movement (AAM) and its public mobilisation to isolate the apartheid regime. These include worldwide campaigns like Stop the Sports Tours, boycotting South African products, and black American solidarity. The Cuban, East German and Russian contributions outline those countries' support for the ANC and MK. The public, global AAM campaigns provide the dimension from which internationalists who secretly served MK emerged."