Acknowledgements
My first word of gratitude has to go to the Taco Kuiper Fund for
Investigative Journalism, administered by Wits Journalism. A generous
grant from the Taco Kuiper Fund allowed me to work on this book full
time for almost a year. I hope Gangster State will encourage other
journalists and authors to embark on a similar writing journey and
broaden the body of literature that shines a light into this country’s
darkest corners.
Investigating and writing about politicians’ secret lives can be a lonely,
daunting and at times risky business. Fortunately, I am able to rely on a
solid support base that consists of family, friends and colleagues in the
media industry. I am thankful for each and every person who has in
some way helped, supported or encouraged me.
Politicians, government officials, businesspeople and a myriad other
sources collectively dedicated hours of their time to help me better
understand my subject and to share vital information with me. Many of
them have asked to remain anonymous due to the climate of fear that
permeates politics in South Africa. But they know who they are, and I
owe them much gratitude for their time and assistance.
Those who can be named and whom I would like to thank include the
DA’s Leona Kleynhans and Roy Jankielsohn, and COPE’s Dennis
Bloem and Papi Kganare. Former Bloemfontein mayor Thabo Manyoni
deserves special acknowledgement for the courage he demonstrated by
sharing with me his recollections of his trip with Ace Magashule to the
Guptas’ Saxonwold estate in Johannesburg. Mxolisi Dukwana was also
willing to share some of his experiences in the Free State on the record.