Rogue: The Inside Story of SARS's Elite Crime-busting Unit

by Johann van Loggerenberg, Adrian Lackay

The story of a 'rogue unit' operating within the South African Revenue Service (SARS) became entrenched in the public mind following a succession of sensational reports published by the Sunday Times in 2014. The unit, the reports claimed, had carried out a series of illegal spook they had spied on President Jacob Zuma, run a brothel, illegally bought spyware and entered into unlawful tax settlements.

In a plot of Machiavellian proportions, head of the elite crime-busting unit Johann van Loggerenberg and many of SARS's top management were forced to resign. Van Loggerenberg's select team of investigators, with their impeccable track record of busting high-level financial fraudsters and nailing tax criminals, lost not only their careers but also their reputations.Now, in this extraordinary account, they finally get to put the record straight and the rumours to there was no 'rogue unit'. The public had been deceived, seemingly by powers conspiring to capture SARS for their own ends.

Shooting down the allegations he has faced one by one, Van Loggerenberg tells the story of what really happened inside SARS, revealing details of some of the unit's actual investigations.

Genres: South Africa, Nonfiction

339 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 19, 2016

Reviews

[Elize · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every South African should read this shocking story! I feel tremendously sorry for J. Van Loggerenberg. His entire career was damaged through the actions of despicable people who are after their own agendas, only they will know what they are. I can only wish him the best of luck in his future endeavours.

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed seeing another side to this intriguing story!

[Oliver Mateman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Left me angered that the Sunday Times as a business, Phylicia Oppelt the Editor at the time, and the 4 Journalists got away with with destroying lives through inaccurate and misleading reporting.

[Nancy Corby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been on a South African binge because of family connections, and I've quite enjoyed reading fiction and fact about the country. This book, in particular, made me gasp at the level of crime and corruption going on. Depressing but insightful, I must say.

Is the fiction more frightening than the reality? I don't know. What's going to happen in the country? This book digs up the dirt quite expertly.

[Nathan Tooley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A frightening tale of State corruption (from the very top of the State). A brave man, the author. The telling of the story is a little flawed (a ghost writer would have been useful in stripping away some of the more boring detail) but there is no doubt that the author and his moral principles are to be applauded in standing up against corruption.

[ALAN KINCAID · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few flaws and a little difficult to read, but a very important book. The level of corruption the author had to deal with is shocking. Good for him for telling the truth and shining a light on the bad guys.

[Isobel Weeks · Rating 4 out of 5]

A courageous man, is this author, and his long struggle helped to defeate the forces of state capture. He deserves every accolade. The book has a couple of jerky pieces of writing but the story is very compelling. I enjoyed it immensely.

[Fiona Dempster · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very necessary story. Not very well written, but shocking in its revelations and showing how news can be twisted and distorted.

[Helen Filster · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fascinating, and shows how the country has slipped into corruption. It's so important for people like this to tell their stories in order to correct the headlines.

[Kobus Koopmans · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is depressing to read but all so true.

[The Contented · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'll admit, not the most readable of books - but a very necessary read nonetheless. If institutions like SARS - once one of post-apartheid South Africa's greatest success stories - see their institutional strength eroded, then what does future tax buoyancy look like? It's a big concern. Book number 11 completed. 6 March 2017

[Nic Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was excited to read this book especially because it was still "fresh" news...... and ongoing.......
The book explains the workings of the different investigative units within SARS and some of their successes in busting high level financial fraudsters, outwitting tax criminals and ensuring that SARS actually became a force to be reckoned with.
It also highlights the sordid attempts by those involved in #statecapture to rout the system of anyone who was anti corruption and or who would not turn a blind eye to the corruption, treachery and blatant theft that has become part of the ANC government in South Africa.
The author tries valiantly to offer some defence of his own name and the many others like Ivan Pillay, Peter Richer and of course Pravin Gordhan when every attempt was made to ruin their careers and their reputations.
To think that 55 of the most senior officials/executives at SARS left during the first 19 months of Tom Moyane becoming Commissioner of SARS is further confirmation of the moves of No 1 and his inner circle to clear the path to the honey pot and to split the spoils.
The book has it all!
Well worth a read for anyone who has an interest in South Africa.

[Charles Cummings · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was really intriguing. Not the best of writing, but the story is amazing. For anyone interested in real government corruption and the dangerous tentacles that reach out to protect those in power, this is the kind of book you should be reading. It's kindled my curiosity about the whole scene in Africa. Amazing how corrupt politicians cling to power. Crime fiction on the continent has a lot to focus on. I'm intrigues to read more about crime fiction in Africa, as well as crime reality.

[Mabel Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm pleased I read this. Something about the newspaper reports at the time, suggesting that the author and his colleagues were up to no good, worried me, and I always wanted the press to take a closer look. Now that the country is taking that closer look, this book is even more important.

I read it back a few months ago and have read it again recently, but my opinion hasn't really changed since I first read it: this is an important book for anyone wanting to understa.tnd state capture and corruption.

[Matthew Seagreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is so important. Finally the truth comes out in the media, years after this author was protesting his innocence.

It's crazy the way the media don't get it : politicians are sneaky bastards trying to create a narrative of their own. Guys like this author are honest and hard-working servants of the public and they deserve to be better treated. A good book, important for all people interested in truth in government maters.

[Joss Du Trevou · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed with this book. It felt like the author was presenting a defense of every article ever written about him or the rogue unit. There were bits of scary insights e.g. Into tobacco industry, but I didn't gain any new insights into the rogue unit other than understanding that a unit did exist and was lawful.

[Tiaan Goussard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Firstly, it's a very good book. That just doesn't hold up throughout. It gives you a great "introduction" to The President's Keepers for the first 10 to 12 pages, but due to legal reasons Johan can't give more information or even speculate. Overall it's a good book, there is just not nearly enough substance.

[Charles Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is frightening. The capture of the State in South Africa is a story that should be told far and wide. The way in which the culprits have set about tarnishing the names of the good guys should be challenged at every opportunity.

This is a book well worth reading - it tells the truth in a way that we need.

[David Blatsky · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's fascinating to read this now that the charges have been withdrawn. What a courageous man to struggle through these false and corrupt charges and come out the other side with dignity. He deserves a medal.

He should have got a ghost writer, though - the book could do with an experienced author;'s eye.

[Bruce Harbour · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting and relevant book for the situation South Africa currently finds itself in with the Finance Minister facing charges from.the NPA. The silent thread running through the book is #statecapture

[Beric Croome · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting and informative book about the so-called "rogue unit of SARS". Raises the question of who the real rogues are who are intent on undermining the state institutions of the Republic of South Africa.

[Sally Hornby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very scary. Not a terribly well written book but certainly amazing subject matter. I enjoyed it, but would have loved to have seen a writer handle this with better structure and style. But still well worth the read.

[Lorna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I eventually skim read to the end. Lots of repetition and I often got the feeling that it was written to get back at the Sunday Times and Belinda Walters. Disappointing.

[Basil Donner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very thought-provoking. A bit rushed, but startling nevertheless.

[Daryl Bester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing. All about corrupt politicians trying to create fake news and go for the innocent. Scary. Good read.

[Nonthando Selibe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cry, the Beloved Country. This is so depressing. Corruption and lotting and political cronyism. This book tells it all.

[Linda Charlewood · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very important expose of the corruption permeating the country. A well-written book with shocking revelations.

[Anne]

Found it very interesting. All South Africans should read it.

[Rendier · Rating 3 out of 5]

the information is interesting, but the writing isn't great. the book feels rushed, and cold have used a bit of planning in the presentation of the story, as it jumps around quite lot. However, I think it is better that the information is "out there".

[Andile Ayanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did not enjoy reading the book. However, the book revealed so much. Walters opened the floodgates for unscrupulous people to get to SARS and harm the entity. The media needs self-introspection, in short, I don't trust them anymore.