Rachel Kolisi has taken to social media to express her ire at the re-release of an ‘updated’ version of the unauthorised Siya Kolisi biography Against All Odds.
Authored by Cape Townian Jeremy Daniel, it was first published in 2019 and chronicles the story of Kolisi’s humble beginnings on the streets of Zwide in the Eastern Cape to become the first black captain of the Springboks.
Released just before the Rugby World Cup kicked off in September of 2019, it received much criticism as Daniel had not gotten official consent from Kolisi to pen his story.
When Rachel Kolisi heard that an ‘updated’ version had been printed and was already on sale online and in book stores, she decided to make her voice heard by starting the social media campaign #SaveSiyasStory.
In her post to launch the campaign, she said "Siya has gone through so many struggles, some, you might know about and some you have no idea. But the story is HIS to tell. Siya has not benefited from this unauthorized book in ANYWAY. And I would appreciate your help on calling this out for what it is. WHITE MEN benefiting off the back of a BLACK MAN”.
She went on to demand that Jonathan Ball Publishers stop printing copies of the book: “We want @jonathanballpublishers to stop printing any and all copies of this book, book stores and online sites not to support the selling of these books. Remove any and ALL marketing material”.
Jonathan Ball Publishers, have refused to stop printing the book saying that it is not uncommon for unauthorised biographies to be written about celebrities and sports personalities.
Siya Kolisi took to the official Springbok Twitter page to have his say, his message was succint: "To clear any confusion, the book published about me with my name on the cover, wasn't written by me or produced with my approval or even knowledge." #SettingTheRecordStraight
