‘Gangster State’ author calls for mobilisation over launch ‘cancellation’ 

Pieter-Louis Myburgh, the author of Gangster State: Unravelling Ace Magashule’s Web of Capture, took to social media on Thursday asking his followers to support him against the possible cancellation of his book launch by Exclusive Books and V&A Waterfront in Cape Town tonight.

He said: “Friends of democracy and free speech, help me mobilise a little here. @VnAWaterfront and @ExclusiveBooks now want to cancel tonight’s #GangsterState launch because they’re scared of a few rascals. Are we going to allow this to happen?”

Friends of democracy and free speech, help me mobilize a little here. @VnAWaterfront and @ExclusiveBooks now want to cancel tonight’s #GangsterState launch because they’re scared of a few rascals. Are we going to allow this to happen? pic.twitter.com/7QLlHajQXB

— Pieter-Louis Myburgh (@PLMyburgh) April 11, 2019

Those who were planning to attend the launch pleaded with the book store not to cancel the launch.

“No! EB this launch must continue! Law-abiding citizens cannot bow to the demands of the lawless… unacceptable! We keep your doors open, not the hooligans that you now want to concede to! Us, the book buyers, not the book destroyers,” said Twitter user @loraine6144xx, while @angelaquintal said: “When corporate South Africa abets fascism — which @VnAWaterfront & @ExclusiveBooks appears to be doing here — you know it’s an even slippier slope! They must do the right thing and ensure the book launch goes ahead and that this time there is adequate security.”

However, Exclusive Books responded to Myburgh’s “incorrect statement” and said it had only discussed the possibility of either postponing the event or hosting it in a different venue.

“Please note that this statement is incorrect. Due to security concerns, we were in the process of discussing the possibility of either a postponement or change of venue but no cancellation was discussed & no official decision has been made,” it said.

Please note that this statement is incorrect. Due to security concerns we were in the process of discussing the possibility of either a postponement or change of venue but no cancellation was discussed and no official decision has been made.

— Exclusive Books (@ExclusiveBooks) April 11, 2019

A group of ANC protesters forced Exclusive Books in Sandton City Mall to close its doors after wrecking a book launch of Gangster State.

“They can’t call us k****r anymore, now they call us corrupt!”

This was one of the slogans a group of protesters shouted as they laid siege to the Exclusive Books branch in Sandton City Mall in Johannesburg, where Myburgh’s explosive new book was being launched by Penguin Random House South Africa.

Author Myburgh was just starting to answer questions from discussion leader Mondli Makhanya, City Press editor-in-chief, when protesters stormed into the store.

What started out as a very well-attended function in the upmarket mall, descended into chaos when the protesters disrupted proceedings by singing loudly, taking out “Stratcom State” posters and waving them around.

(Compiled by Vhahangwele Nemakonde, additional reporting by Carina Koen)

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