It’s easy to dismiss ‘scandal’ and ‘corruption’ these days as they’ve become an unfortunate norm for South Africans, so if you thought Pauw had said all there was to say in his bestselling book The President’s Keepers- boy will the sequel make your bowels loosen.
In his follow-up, Our Poisoned Land, the bestselling author presents another masterclass in investigative journalism and a worthy contender to his previous book’s record-breaking success.
This time around Pauw starts by inviting readers into the behind the scenes drama that ensued after the publication of The President’s Keepers. From a mysterious power failure during an Exclusive Books Hyde Park signing to raids on his home and the unrelenting harassment he faced following the book’s release.
As a reader armed with the knowledge that you are now holding the follow up to that book-you can’t help but wonder ‘Why Jacques? Why put yourself through this again?’ The answer comes swiftly. It’s a jarring and heart-breaking truth that the reader only pieces together the deeper you go. Simply put, there are still people in power who need to be held to account.
At a time in our history when the President of the country has been informed that he has ‘a case to answer for’ regarding the Phala Phala Farm debacle-is it really so hard to believe that others need to be exposed and called to account.
The magnitude of the looting, corruption and bankruptcy of entire metros that the citizenry of this country is forced to bear both financially, mentally and even from a safety perspective makes this book not just timely but should be essential reading.
No-one and I mean no-one is left unexamined. From Julius Malema and the EFF to Arthur Fraser and everyone who’s anyone on the South African political, criminal and industrial landscape-nobody is left un-dissected. The details of their finances, wrongdoings and illicit back door dealings and brown envelope side hustles are laid bare for the public.
In his follow-up to The President’s Keepers, Pauw turns his deft eye and un-paralleled investigative journalism skills from former President Zuma to the enablers who were his ‘keepers’. Pauw’s focus in Our Poisoned Land lands on the people who have remained in power, despite their complicity in crime, corruption and the obstruction of the rule of law.
This book is a tour de force and a must read for anyone who wants to finally understand why, despite the appearance of change nothing has, in fact, actually changed. The true puppet masters are still pulling the strings and South Africans remain the duped audience forking out hard earned monies for a show we’ve seen before.
The notes of optimism and hope that were present in The President’s Keepers are sadly gone from Our Poisoned Land as it becomes clear that unless the rot is carved out of our political and police services the outlook for this beautiful country is bleak.
Details: Publication date: 11 November 2022
Price: R340,00
Pages: 336
Binding: Paperback / softback
Category: Current affairs
ISBN-13: 9780624090533
Barcode: 9780624090533
Edition: 1
Digital Edition
Publication Date: 11 November 2022
Price: R300,00
Epub ISBN: 9780624090540
