Suiker Britz: Dossier van ’n speurbaas

by Anemari Jansen, Stefaans Coetzee

Toe die legendariese Suiker Britz homself in 2018 om die lewe gebring het, het die einde van ’n era aangebreek – ’n tydvak waarin ouskool-polisiemanne se reputasie gebou was op ongelooflike suksesse in die bekamping van misdaad. In sy luisterryke loopbaan as polisieman en speurder, en as hoof van die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisie se Moord en Roof-eenheid, was Britz as ondersoeker betrokke by misdade wat die samelewing tot in sy fondamente geskud het. In die land se oorgangstydperk na demokrasie het hy, in opdrag van verskeie kommissies van ondersoek, duisterhede help opklaar rondom polities-geïnspireerde moorde. In hierdie boek probeer die skrywers ’n beeld van die man agter die legende kry deur die soeklig op sake waarby hy betrokke was, te laat val. En die beeld wat na vore kom is dié van ’n passievolle speurder wat uitsonderlike prestasies in sy loopbaan behaal het, maar hy was ook ’n gewone mens met unieke tekortkominge. Britz het dikwels onder fel kritiek deurgeloop oor die manier waarop polities sensitiewe sake hanteer is. Lesers wat maklik ontstel word deur grafiese materiaal, moet daarop bedag wees dat die sake wat in hierdie boek gedek word, dikwels grusaam en angswekkend is. Om egter ’n profiel van ’n man in Suiker Britz se liga saam te stel, is dit onvermydelik dat die donkerste uithoeke van die menslike psige verken moet word.

161 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2019

About the author

EMPOWERING VOICES. PRESERVING STORIES.
At Koorsboomstories, we believe every book is a vessel for healing, legacy, and connection. Whether documenting personal journeys, family histories, community narratives or children’s books, we offer expert guidance and publishing services to help voices rise and be heard.
Anemari Jansen is the founder of the publishing house Koorsboomstories. She holds a Master’s degree in Afrikaans literature and is a published writer of fiction and non-fiction. Her debut novel, Glipstroom, was published in 2014 by NB Publishers.
In 2015 she published her first non-fiction work, Eugene de Kock: Assassin for the State and Eugene de Kock: Sluipmoordenaar vir die Staat.
The English version was longlisted for the Sunday Times/Alan Paton award. That was followed in 2019 by Suiker Britz: Dossier van `n Speurbaas, co-authored with Stefaans Coetzee.
Anemari has presented guided writing workshops since 2021, from Klerksdorp to Mamelodi. Her latest books include an anthology, Messages of hope for South Africa, in which 31 South Africans contributed their stories, as well as Write your Memoir: The power of storytelling.

Reviews

[Yolandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I began by reading the first few pages and, quite unexpectedly, found myself completely drawn in. That moment led me to purchase the book on Google Play Books so I could continue reading. I have no regrets—it was a captivating experience.

While the book concluded rather abruptly and focused more on the details of cases Suiker worked on than on Suiker himself, it still provided a compelling overview of crimes I was familiar with as well as those I knew very little about. I found chapters two and three particularly gripping and informative.

Overall, it was a worthwhile read that broadened my understanding and kept me engaged throughout.