The story of the murders of Dulcie September, Anton Lubowski and Chris Hani
From 1988, Evelyn Groenink, ZAM's Investigations Editor, investigated some of the most uncomfortable stories of the Southern African struggle for freedom and independence: the murders of Paris ANC representative Dulcie September in 1988, SWAPO leader Anton Lubowski (1989) and ANC leader Chris Hani (1993).
Evelyn Groenink's was launched at ZAM in Amsterdam on Tuesday March 27, 2018
It is often thought that the three activists were assassinated by Apartheid forces simply because they were freedom fighters. But Incorruptible, a nail-bitingly thrilling reflection of Evelyn Groenink’s painstaking research over the past 30 years, shows the truth is different. All three tried to keep their organisations, the ANC and SWAPO, free from wrongdoing. They stood against mafias who had invaded their movement’s inner circles. They were not only brave anti-apartheid fighters: they were incorruptible.
One of the most explosive revelations in this book concerns the murder of Chris Hani, 25 years ago. Groenink reveals how the police buried evidence from no less than three witnesses who saw another murderer besides Janusz Waluś; and how the state’s ‘brave’ star eyewitness in all likelihood hadn’t even been there when Hani was shot.
With corruption endemic in South Africa today, the reader is entitled to ask if things would be different if Hani, Lubowski and September had lived. Though in 2018 the murder of Dulcie September is 30 years past, and Chris Hani’s 25 years, the book raises the spectre of similar mafia-type deals that may still be making victims in South Africa – and beyond.
The book has already caused controversy; so much that a planned publication in 2005 could not take place because of the myriad legal and physical threats – against then intended publisher, Jacana Media – that resulted after comments were invited from a number of individuals mentioned in the book.
Incorruptible includes, in a dedicated chapter, the events around that ‘requesting comments’ exercise. It also includes, in an effort to be scrupulously fair, all responses that were received either verbally or in writing. Whenever the responses were too long to include in the book (one letter received amounted to twenty pages) they are reproduced in full on author Evelyn Groenink’s website, evelyngroenink.com. Order your copy in our store. Also available on Amazon.
Listen to an interview with the author in VPRO's Argos (in Dutch, at 30:40)
South African launches of Incorruptible took place at:
– Johannesburg, at the Wits Graduate Centre, South West Engineering Building, University of the Witwatersrand, 6 March, 17:30 for 18:00
– Durban, at Ike’s Bookstore, 8 March, 48 A Florida Road, 17:30 for 18:00
– Cape Town, at the Cornerstone Institute, 127 Cecil Rd, Salt River, Cape Town, 13 March, 17:30 for 18:00
All launches featured a Q&A between author and audience.
