The Presidents Keeper... thousands of more books go into print production

A controversial book containing allegations against President Jacob Zuma relating to corruption and irregularities with his tax affairs has gone on another print run.

Investigative journalist Jacques Pauw exposes the darkest secret at the heart of Jacob Zuma’s compromised government: a cancerous cabal that eliminates the president’s enemies and purges the law-enforcement agencies of good men and women.

And the book cannot stay on shelves as South Africans have rushed to get their own copy. The first 20,000 copies of The President’s Keepers has sold out within days of being released and tens-of-thousands of additional books have been ordered and should be available this week.

NB Publishers says demand surged within 24 hours of the State Security Agency’s attempt to have the book withdrawn.

Author and investigative journalist Jacques Pauw said the presidency can meet him in court if it wishes to challenge what he has written.

Attempts to suppress distribution of The President’s Keepers backfired spectacularly on Friday as threats of legal action spurred sales, with the initial run of 20,000 copies sold out already.

‘An amazing piece of work, stuffed with anecdote and evidence. It will light fires all through the state and the ANC.’ Peter Bruce

‘This is dynamite. Dynamite that will shake the foundations of the halls of power.’ Max du Preez

A pirated, hacked copy of The President’s Keepers has started being shared on social media as many believe that the booked has been banned but the publishers have released a statement explaining that they have started another print run for Pauw’s important book to assist with the demand.

They have asked the public not to pirate the book, but rather buy a copy as more go to print.

“We assure the public the book is not banned and we are printing more to meet the overwhelming demand and working to get them to the shops as soon as possible.”

“We understand that many South Africans are doing this innocently, believing it to be a protest against the State Security Agency’s attempt to have the book withdrawn.”

“Piracy hurts this courageous author, who has put everything on the line to ensure South Africa knows the truth this book tells. It also hurts the publishing industry, and is illegal. If you cannot find the book in your local book shop, please buy the ebook on Takealot or Amazon.”

“The author and NB Publishers have taken huge risks to bring this important investigative work out into the open. So please read it, but also do the right thing, and please pay for it.”

Meanwhile author and journalist Jacques Pauw says he’ll happily assist law enforcement agencies with information to investigate a number of culprits who are accused of wrongdoing in his new book.

The South African Revenue Service and the State Security Agency have issued statements, saying they intend taking legal action against Pauw and his publisher.

But Pauw says his information is credible and he hasn’t broken any laws.

“We need the law enforcement agencies to investigate this and bring the culprits to book. I’ve said from the beginning that if any credible law enforcement agent contacts me and sits down with me, saying I should help them in the investigation, I will help them. But to shoot the messenger is not going to resolve anything.”

Pauw says he’s not sure if the threats from law enforcement agencies will ever reach the courts but he maintains the information in his book should be investigated.

“I’m not sure whether any of this will ever get to a court of law. I think it was a question there was such a reaction to the book that after three or four days they decided they had to show that they are at least doing something.”