Press statement by Penguin Random House

10 November 2020

In April 2019, investigative journalist Pieter-Louis Myburgh exposed the web of capture that appeared to surround Ace Magashule, the erstwhile premier of the Free State, in his book Gangster State, published by Penguin Random House. In this book, Magashule’s links to alleged corrupt dealings over the Free State’s R255-million asbestos audit contract were uncovered for the first time.

Now, just over a year later, a warrant of arrest has been issued for Magashule over the Free State asbestos saga and he is expected to face several corruption-related charges. According to Daily Maverick’s Scorpio, Magashule will make his first appearance in the Bloemfontein High Court as early as this week.

In his explosive book Myburgh covers Magashule’s time as a struggle activist in the 1980s, his rule as premier of the Free State province for nearly a decade, and his rise to one of the ANC’s most influential positions.

Sifting through heaps of records, documents, and exclusive source interviews, Myburgh explores Magashule’s apparent links with the notorious Gupta family and other tender moguls; investigates government projects costing billions that allegedly enriched his family but failed the poor; reveals how he was about to be arrested by the Scorpions before their disbandment in the late 2000s; and exposes the methods used to keep him in power in the Free State and to secure him the post of ANC secretary-general.

Most tellingly, Myburgh pieces together a pack of leaked emails and documents to reveal shocking details on a massive Free State government contract and connections between Magashule’s office and a businessman who was gunned down in Sandton in 2017. Gangster State is an unflinching examination of the ANC’s top leadership in the Jacob Zuma era and beyond.

Gangster State is available at all bookstores as well as online retailers.

Tags Gangster State News Penguin Random House SA Pieter-Louis Myburgh