Louis Luyt: Unauthorised

by Max Du Preez

Business tycoon, political maverick and rugby boss, Louis Luyt has been making a powerful impression on South African history for decades. This biography tells the story of Luyt's impoverished childhood, his success as an industrialist and his political activities.

Genres: Biography

237 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 2001

Reviews

[Gary · Rating 3 out of 5]

extremely tough an persuasive businessman who used business and political connections to build an empire. made millions from his company Triomf Fertilizer over 20 years - business collapsed taking Nedbank for 462 million rand, 362 million rand of which the Reserve Bank had to weigh in to save the bank, big money for 1986.
Started Luyt Lager and gave SAB a run for their money and then became a notorious rugby administrator.

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is very interesting and give a behind the scenes look into some of the transformation from apartheid to democracy in South Africa. In the first half it describes how Louis made his fortune. in the second half it shows a view of how rugby could have united South Africa after being accepted into the international arena but instead Louis and cronies used it as a business to generate enormous wealth from sponsorships etc.