Gareth Cliff launches his new book

Renowned radio host and entrepreneur, Gareth Cliff, recently launched the much awaited, Cliffhanger: Confessions of a Shock Jock at Skoobs Theatre of Books in Montecasino.

Cliff, who is known for being strongly opinionated with a whiplash wit, disclosed more about his book to the crowd of book lovers.

He addressed topics in his book such as being fired by M-Net when he was one of the Idols judges after facing accusations of racism over the Penny Sparrow incident, fighting back and going to court by employing the services of the EFF’s Advocate Dali Mpofu and being reinstated.

Read Mnet to oppose Gareth Cliff’s R25 million lawsuit

“Dali is masterful and will remain one of my great teachers. When the EFF’s Floyd Shivambu put out their statement, mostly condemning me as a racist and horrible human being, I admit that I found it confusing,” Cliff said.

He added that he thought he had a good rapport with Julius Malema and felt that he understood the EFF’s disillusionment with the ANC and their passion for the good people of South Africa.

“Julius and I have something of a parallel relationship. I have been called ‘the white Julius Malema’ for being outspoken and unapologetic, and he has often found himself likened to me for similar reasons,” Cliff said.

Cliff further said that he and Malema both say what they think, and they often say what other people think, which meant they made a lot of friends and enemies. “In fact, Malema once said to me, ‘There are people who don’t like me and there are people who don’t like you … but there are more people who like you and there are more people who like me.’ ”

Cliff jokingly said although he and Malema would probably disagree on many things, he, however, thought that Malema was an extraordinarily passionate man with a great deal of charisma and influence. “When we launched my online radio show, CliffCentral.com, Julius was my second guest, in an hour-and-a-half-long conversation that many people said was his best public engagement to date. He came out as eminently likeable and smart,” Cliff quipped.

Read Gareth Cliff wins case against M-Net

Cliff then explained that during the Penny Sparrow incident, the EFF released a statement stating that they acknowledged Advocate Mpofu’s professional right and obligation to represent whoever approaches and briefs him on any issue that relates to law, and that, in their view, professionals carry an obligation to provide any form of professional assistance to all people, irrespective of their race, prejudices and background.

In the gripping Cliffhanger, South Africa’s controversial shock jock goes behind the scenes to give readers a first-hand account of Cliff’s day in court and his win against M-Net as well as being reinstated as a judge on Idols. The book also goes into detail about Cliff’s highs and lows of the past two decades.

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