BANTU HOLOMISA, the game changer, an authorised biography

336pp., b/w & colour illus., paperback, Johannesburg, 2017

Bantu Holomisa was born in the Transkei in 1955. In 1976 he joined the Transkeian Defence Force, becoming a Brigadier in 1985. In 1987 he forced the resignation and exile of Prime Minister of Transkei George Matanzima and overthrew Matanzima's successor, Prime Minister Stella Sigcau. He led the government of Transkei from 1987 to 1994, when it was reintegrated into a democratic South Africa. Holomisa served in Mandela’s cabinet as Deputy Minister for Environmental Affairs and Tourism. He was expelled from the ANC in 1996 after testifying before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. He then co-founded the United Democratic Movement with John Taylor and Roelf Meyer and was elected to parliament in 1999.

Journalist Eric Naki works as a senior political reporter for The Citizen newspaper in Johannesburg.