How To Steal A Country: State Capture and Hopes for the Future in South Africa

by Robin Renwick

How to Steal a Country describes the vertiginous decline in political leadership in South Africa from Mandela to Zuma and its terrible consequences. Robin Renwick’s account reads in parts like a novel – a crime novel – for Sherlock Holmes old adversary, Professor Moriarty, the erstwhile Napoleon of Crime, would have been impressed by the ingenuity, audacity and sheer scale of the looting of the public purse, let alone the impunity with which it has been accomplished.

Based on Renwick’s personal experiences of the main protagonists, it describes the extraordinary influence achieved by the Gupta family for those seeking to do business with state-owned enterprises in South Africa, and the massive amounts earned by Gupta related companies from their associations with them.

The ensuing scandals have engulfed Bell Pottinger, KPMG, McKinsey and other multinationals. The primary responsibility for this looting of the state however, rests squarely with President Zuma and key members of his government.

But South Africa has succeeded in establishing a genuinely non-racial society full of determined and enterprising people, offering genuine hope for the future. These include independent journalists, black and white, who refuse to be silenced, and the judges, who have acted with courage and independence. The book concludes that change will come, either by the ruling party reverting to the values of Mandela and Archbishop Tutu, or by the reckoning it otherwise will face one day.

Genres: Africa, South Africa, Nonfiction, Politics

336 pages, Hardcover

Published November 20, 2018

About the author

Robin William Renwick, Baron Renwick of Clifton was a British diplomat, author and a member of the House of Lords who served as British ambassador to South Africa (1987−1991) and the United States (1991−1995).

Reviews

[Ruan Stander · Rating 4 out of 5]

The people who sold my Country to the Guptas:
Jacob Zuma (President),
Duduzane Zuma (Son of JZ),
Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma (Ex-Wife of JZ),
Brian Molefe (CEO of Transnet and Eskom),
Tom Moyane (SARS)
Ace Magashule (Premier of Free State)
Shaun Abrahams (Head NPA)
Lynne Brown (Minister Public Enterprises)
Malusi Gigaba (Minister of Local Governments and later of Finance)
Hlaudi Motsoeneng (SABC)
Arthur Fraser (State Security Agency)
Mosebenzi Zwane (Minister Mineral Resources)

The people who saved my Country:
Thuli Madonsela (Public Protector - Nkanthla Report, State Capture Report)
Pravin Gordhan, Nhlanhla Nene (Finance Ministers)
Mcebisi Jonas (Deputy FM - refused R600m to take post as FM and work for Guptas)
Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng and SA Judiciary.
SA Independent press.

[Daniel · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book details the rise and rise of the Gupta family in South Africa and how they virtually controlled the government. My critiscm of the book is that it did not provide any more insight into how the Guptas took control of South Africa beyond information available in contemporary press reports. It was merely a summary of the available reporting.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent. Sets out the recent history of South Africa under Zuma clearly and in a balanced way. Essential reading for all South Africans.