The Plot to Save South Africa: The Week Mandela Averted Civil War and Forged a New Nation

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Superbly reported, compelling . . . wonderfully captures the spirit of that timeFinancial Times

Magnificent, furious and unputdownableAndrew Harding, BBC Africa correspondent and author of These Are Not Gentle People
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Nine days that set the course of a nation...

Johannesburg, Easter weekend, 1993. Nelson Mandela has been free for three years and is in slow-moving power-sharing talks with President FW de Klerk when a white supremacist shoots Mandelas popular young heir apparent, Chris Hani, in the hope of igniting an all-out civil war. Will he succeed in plunging South Africa into chaos, safeguarding apartheid for perhaps years to come Or can Mandela and de Klerk overcome their differences and mutual suspicion and calm their followers, plotting a way forward

In The Plot to Save South Africa, acclaimed South African journalist Justice Malala recounts the riveting story of the next nine days never before told in full revealing rarely seen sides of both Mandela and de Klerk, the fascinating behind-the-scenes debates within each of their parties over whether to pursue peace or war, and their increasingly desperate attempts to restrain their supporters despite mounting popular frustrations.

Flitting between the points of view of over a dozen characters on all sides of the conflict, Justice Malala offers an illuminating look at successful leadership in action and a terrifying reminder of just how close a country we think of today as a model for racial reconciliation came to civil war.
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A dramatic work of history, prodigiously reported and beautifully crafted. Justice Malala is a first-rate storyteller, deftly weaving history with a narrative that reads like a novel. I couldnt put it down Jonathan Eig, New York Times bestselling author of Ali: A Life

Reviews

Superbly reported, compelling . . . wonderfully captures the spirit of that time * Financial Times *
A dramatic work of history, prodigiously reported and beautifully crafted. Justice Malala is a first-rate storyteller, deftly weaving history with a narrative that reads like a novel. I couldnt put it down -- Jonathan Eig, New York Times bestselling author of Ali: A Life
Magnificent, furious, nuanced and un-put-downable. Malala steers us through the hatred, the grief, and the courage that shaped one nation-shaking week. The result is a searing thriller, a deeply moving work of investigative journalism, and a mesmerising reminder of what leadership can achieve - and what South Africa almost squandered -- Andrew Harding, BBC Africa correspondent
A suspenseful nonfiction thriller * Kirkus *
Fast-paced, gripping, and expertly crafted, this book reads like a political thriller. With thorough reporting and vivid writing, Justice Malala delivers readers into the heart of South Africa as it faced unprecedented upheaval. The result is a brilliant, moving, and extraordinary account of nine days that shaped a country and a continent, with the entire world looking on -- Toluse Olorunnipa, co-author of His Name is George Floyd
Although heart-wrenching at times, Malala's immaculately researched account underscores the power of Mandelas great leadership in unimaginably difficult times * Booklist Starred Review *
Doggedly researched and immersively told, this is a fascinating study of a nation on the brink. * Publishers Weekly *

Author Bio

Justice Malala is one of South Africas foremost political commentators and the author of the #1 bestsellerWe Have Now Begun Our Descent: How to Stop South Africa Losing its Way. A longtime weekly columnist forThe Times (South Africa), his work has also appeared inThe Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal,The Guardian, and Financial Times, among other outlets.The former publisher of The Sowetan and Sunday World, he now lives in Los Angeles.