Robin Renwick chatted to CNBC Africa’s Jill de Villiers recently about his latest book How to Steal a Country: State Capture and Hopes for the Future in South Africa.

In the period leading up to Nelson Mandela’s release from prison, Renwick was the British Ambassador to South Africa. His new book describes the vertiginous decline in political leadership in South Africa from the days of Mandela to the presidency of Jacob Zuma.

Renwick says of Mandela: ‘I’ve never met a more impressive leader anywhere.’

He continues: ‘With great humanity. His whole approach to the future of South Africa was inclusive and this was extraordinary political leadership – also by FW de Klerk, by the way. It took two important leaders to turn this country around.

‘So it’s been very distressing to see this extraordinary descent in terms of political leadership in South Africa, from Mandela, admired worldwide, to Jacob Zuma, in the last three or four years, with the sheer looting of the South African state treasury.’

Watch the video:

Categories Non-fiction South Africa

Tags How to Steal a Country Jacana Media Robin Renwick Videos