IN PHOTOS | Dr Mathews Phosa has book launch for memoir

Witness to Power, a compelling political memoir by Dr Mathews Phosa, a prominent figure, was launched on November 25.

This book has had a lot of people talking, and the launch enjoyed a great turnout of them from all walks of life.

Phosa said it took him seven years to write it. He said we cannot avoid the truth, no matter how painful it is – it must be told. “You can see it does not have glamourous language, it is simple and it flows, because it wants to tell the story of our country, about the power we received as a democratic government, how we used it, how we abused it and how we failed to use it, and it carries many lessons in it. I do not think there are many South Africans alive who can say they served five presidents; I did, I wrote memoirs for them, I wrote speeches for them and I made them take the right steps. Where they took the wrong steps, I plead not guilty.”

Read the book, walk with me, pick up the lessons and stay away from the bad lessons.

In the preface to his memoir, Phosa shares how he was a witness to the way Nelson Mandela had reconciled South Africans who had previously been enemies, and to how his African National Congress won power and magnanimously shared it with FW de Klerk’s National Party. He shares how he had met Mandela in Lusaka soon after his release from prison and that he had served as premier of Mpumalanga. He shares how he worked with former president Thabo Mbeki in exile, and how, during his presidency, Phosa was pushed to the sidelines with false accusations that he was involved in a ‘plot’ to overthrow Mbeki.

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These are just some of the things shared in this memoir. When asked about the different views people have on the book, including criticisms, Phosa said only those who have not read the book do not like it. “Read the book, walk with me, pick up the lessons and stay away from the bad lessons,” he explained.

Phosa is someone who has the ability to bring people together regardless of who they are or what their race or cultural background is, as he has worked and formed relations with various people, and this was visible during this launch.

Phosa said he acknowledged the turnout and appreciates the support. He said he felt unconditional love from the people of Mpumalanga. “There were people of mixed race; these are people who worked with me even when I was premier. Godfrey Ntombela, the HOD for culture, sports and recreation, bought 45 books yesterday, and he will be buying another 117 so that they can be distributed to local libraries. I appreciate the support from everyone,” he said.