on air now
NOW PLAYING
Roch-Lè Bloem
up next
Up Next
KayCee Rossouw
on air now
NOW PLAYING
Roch-Lè Bloem
up next
Up Next
KayCee Rossouw
 

Disruption of book launch described as "Nazi-era Germany"


The African National Congress late on Tuesday night said it distanced itself from a disruption of the book launch for Gangster State: Unravelling Ace Magashule's Web of Capture, written by Pieter-Louis Myburgh.

"The ANC distances itself from the disruption of the launch of the book, Gangster State, on Tuesday evening in Sandton," said the governing party via an emailed statement.

In footage displayed on social media and television, supporters of ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule could be seen storming Exclusive Books at Sandton City and ripping apart copies of the book. They also tried to intimidate those at the launch by shouting at them to 'Go'.  


Penguin Random House (PRH) said they were appalled by the behaviour of those who disrupted the launch.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, PRH said the scenes that played out on Tuesday night was more reminiscent of Nazi-era Germany than the free society envisaged in our Constitution.

"In a democratic South Africa, everybody is free to disagree with a book" the statement read.

There will be another book launch in Cape Town on Thursday which will be moderated by Adriaan Basson.

Penguin said they hoped that Ace Magashule and his supporters get the message that no amount of intimidation will deter them.

The book deals with allegations of bribery and corruption involving Magashule during his tenure as Free State premier and his connections to the infamous Gupta family.