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THE END OF NORMAL - A Witness to the Unravelling of White Power in South Africa
It was the beginning of 1976 and life was good.
White South Africans danced along to Queen and ABBA. There was huge anticipation of the pending All Black rugby tour in July–and at last South Africa had TV!
And then came the Soweto student uprising in June. It was the end of normal, setting in motion a series of events that culminated in the negotiated settlement of 1994.
MAX DU PREEZ, born and raised in a conservative Afrikaner Christian Nationalist family, witnessed the first stones thrown on 16 June–and the first shots fired–as a young newspaper reporter. That was also the end of his normal.
In the half century since those seismic days, Du Preez has had a front-row seat to South Africa’s darkest and brightest moments. The End of Normal explores how otherwise decent people came to implement and support the evil system of apartheid. He examines the long-term impact of 16 June and takes a hard look at attitudes today, in particular the recent resurgence of Afrikaner nationalism.
In this highly compelling account, replete with anecdotes, confessions and revelations, Du Preez pulls no punches.
White South Africans danced along to Queen and ABBA. There was huge anticipation of the pending All Black rugby tour in July–and at last South Africa had TV!
And then came the Soweto student uprising in June. It was the end of normal, setting in motion a series of events that culminated in the negotiated settlement of 1994.
MAX DU PREEZ, born and raised in a conservative Afrikaner Christian Nationalist family, witnessed the first stones thrown on 16 June–and the first shots fired–as a young newspaper reporter. That was also the end of his normal.
In the half century since those seismic days, Du Preez has had a front-row seat to South Africa’s darkest and brightest moments. The End of Normal explores how otherwise decent people came to implement and support the evil system of apartheid. He examines the long-term impact of 16 June and takes a hard look at attitudes today, in particular the recent resurgence of Afrikaner nationalism.
In this highly compelling account, replete with anecdotes, confessions and revelations, Du Preez pulls no punches.
336 pages, Paperback
Published May 5, 2026
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July 11, 2026
If you are South African or interested in South Africa this book is a must read. Max du Preez is one of South Africa’s foremost journalists. He was present at or part of all the events which he chronicles from 1976 onwards. There is much insight and first hand information available to make it a fascinating read. He is a devastatingly good writer with a wonderful sense of humour and great integrity. He makes me proud to be a South African.
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