How To Steal A Country

How to Steal a Country documents South Africa's period of state capture and corruption under Jacob Zuma's presidency. Former British ambassador Robin Renwick traces the systematic looting of state resources and the role of the Gupta family in undermining South African institutions. The book details the efforts of journalists, civil society organizations, and whistleblowers who worked to expose the corruption networks. Through interviews and extensive research, Renwick reconstructs the key events and decisions that enabled the capture of state enterprises and government departments. The narrative follows major investigations into corruption at Eskom, SARS, and other state entities, along with the political battles within the ANC. Renwick examines how democratic institutions ultimately prevailed against attempts to dismantle them. The book serves as both a cautionary tale about institutional decay and a testament to the resilience of constitutional democracy. It demonstrates how corruption threatens not just public resources but the foundations of democratic governance itself.

Readers describe this as a detailed account of state capture and corruption in South Africa under Jacob Zuma's presidency. Reviews commend the book's clear timeline of events and explanation of how government institutions were systematically undermined. Readers appreciated: - Comprehensive documentation of complex financial transactions - Clear writing style that makes technical details accessible - Inclusion of investigative journalists' role in exposing corruption Common criticisms: - Lacks deeper analysis of historical context - Some repetition of previously published news coverage - Limited coverage of grassroots resistance movements Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (78 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (42 ratings) Several reviewers noted that while the book effectively catalogues corruption, it doesn't offer solutions. One reader on Goodreads commented: "Important facts but reads like an extended newspaper article." Multiple Amazon reviews praised the book's "forensic detail" in tracking money flows between state entities and private interests.

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🔹 Robin Renwick served as the British Ambassador to South Africa during the crucial period of 1987-1991, giving him unique first-hand insight into the transition from apartheid to democracy under Nelson Mandela. 🔹 The book exposes how the Gupta family, who emigrated from India to South Africa in 1993, managed to capture state institutions and siphon billions of rand from public enterprises during Jacob Zuma's presidency. 🔹 The investigation into state capture detailed in the book was largely triggered by then-Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas's revelation that the Gupta family had offered him R600 million to become Finance Minister. 🔹 Author Robin Renwick had previously written extensively about African politics, including acclaimed books about Robert Mugabe and Nelson Mandela, making this his third major work focusing on Southern African leadership. 🔹 The book's title "How to Steal a Country" was inspired by a phrase used by former South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, who described the systematic looting of state resources as "a silent coup."