MY APPRECIATION TO Bridget Impey, who has as ever been a joy to work with. Thanks to Russell Martin for his splendid editing, and to Maggie Davey and all at Jacana Media, particularly Lara Jacob for her meticulous proofreading of the book, Stavi Kotsiovos and Shawn Paikin, for assisting me while working through the editorial process and book design; and Janine Daniel and Neilwe Mashigo for the marketing. Thanks to Zanele Mbuyisa for specialist legal advice. Special gratitude to David Niddrie, who has kept me from going insane by helping me assemble the book on my computer. I managed to lose only one chapter of the book and some paragraphs here and there, but I lost that material so thoroughly that not even David or my young relative, Jamie Francis, could manage to retrieve them. David has been more than a computer buff; he has been an excellent adviser and discussant on various aspects of the book, as well as assisting me in getting the manuscript into an acceptable form and suggesting editing changes and refinements.
My thanks to numerous comrades for ideas, suggestions and comments not only while writing but over the years, in assessing and analysing developments in South Africa. I am especially grateful to Vishnu Padayachee and Ben Fine for the economic insights they have provided; to Moeletsi Mbeki, who tirelessly campaigns for a technologically modern South Africa; to my close friend Pallo Jordan for his efforts to keep me aligned and my apologies for differing but always gaining from the association; to Carlos de Cossio, the Cuban ambassador, always ready to respond to my queries about his inspiring country; to Gabi Mohale, who looks after my archive at the Historical Papers research archive at Wits university’s Cullen Library and is always ready to assist in locating any item; and to fellow subversives of the Sidikiwe Campaign, such as Nosiviwe Madlala-Routledge, Louise Colvin, Barney Pityana, Vish Satgar and a hundred others who helped to remind the ANC that the gravy train days were numbered unless they remedied their ways.
A special salute to Patrick Bond, academic activist, with a tremendous zest for justice and the truth, and his many writings (not the least of which are his book Elite Transition and essay ‘Was Mandela pushed or did he jump?’). And to Sampie Terreblanche in ackowledgement of his slim volume, Lost in Transformation, which prompted my concept of a ‘Faustian Pact’.
Deep appreciation to my legal team: Advocates Dali Mpofu and François Grobler and my attorney Jenny Friedman, who prepared the ammunition (as her father and mentor, Rowley Arenstein, had taught her) to fire in winning my defamation case against the chairperson of the MK Military Veterans Association and salvaging the name of Fezeka Kuzwayo and my reputation; for Louise Colvin and Ivan Pillay for assisting with arrangements to ensure the care of Fezeka’s mother; and to Nokuthula and Thokozani Mtshali for coming to the rescue. Hugs to Kimmie Msibi, the lifelong friend of the late Fezeka Kuzwayo, who stood up to Jacob Zuma for the women of our country. Zola Ngcakani, the former inspector general, and Imtiaz Fazel, who investigated the fake emails, afforded me the time I needed to jog my memory; as did Frank Dutton, the country’s top detective (retired), who was the Scorpions’ initial leader; and Laurie Nathan, who wrote the Matthews Commission Report recommending reforms of the intelligence services and who helped me struggle against the almost ingrained culture of ‘bending the rules’. Unforgettable was my engagement with the press ombudsman, Johan Retief, the public advocate, Latiefa Mobara, and all at the Press Council for enabling me to extract an unprecedented apology from the Sunday Times for publishing false allegations about me. Special appreciation to comrade and former president Kgalema Motlanthe for the time he afforded me. Profound thanks to David Bell for the stimulating discussions we had as I explained the purpose of this book to him.
I will not name most of those in government positions and especially MK veterans, as the book is not going to be popular with the powers that be; but my thanks to them for they know what and they know why. In this respect I need to acknowledge the useful insights provided by ‘Chico’, ‘Rosie’ and ‘Chancey’ over time.
Thanks to Victoria Brittain for her encouragement and to John Rose, who for several years has nagged me to write about my years in government; to my sons Andrew and Chris for their encouragement and support, and Andy’s alter ego, the Admiral, for encouraging chats over many lunches. Gratitude to Liz Francis for her devotion to the memory of Eleanor and visits to the Kirstenbosch tree growing out of the soil where we buried her ashes. Special mention of Angie Kapelianis, the ‘Harrow Road heroine’, who drove like a bat out of hell to save us from a hijacking and obtained for me various out-of-print books.
Most important of all, boundless appreciation to my dearest wife, Amina, who has shown such patience and provided the support and love with which this book could not have been started or concluded. She effortlessly kept me going with masala chai and good cheer, well beyond the call of duty.