Pale Native: Memories of a Renegade Reporter

by Max Du Preez

The entire political landscape of South Africa has changed since Max du Preez published his much-acclaimed book Pale Memories of a Renegade Reporter in 2003. This revised, updated edition has new chapters on the ‘bloodless coup’ of Polokwane, the demise (and updated assessment) of Thabo Mbeki, the rise of Jacob Zuma and the 2009 election, as well as the controversies in Afrikaner culture and politics.

A fascinating analysis of southern African politics from a skilled reporter who has seen it first hand. A rollicking story peopled with generals and guerrillas, presidents and hit men. Reported with the uncompromising, outspoken frankness that has won Max du Preez admiration and got him into trouble with the new government as well as the old.

Genres: South Africa, Nonfiction, Africa, Biography

388 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a heck of a good read! Tracing Max Du Preez's journey through South Africa from the 1960's to date, 'Pale Native' is filled with larger than life characters (well known and lesser known, evil and just eccentric) as they create a narrative that should be prescribed for any and all history students.

Du Preez is an incisive investigative journalist who has a command of prose that makes the pages virtually come alive, dancing in the reader's mind. Yes, this is a book to read!

[The Contented · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some interesting insights. Useful detail on apartheid South Africa's involvement in Angola and pre-independence Namibia, as well as the violence that continued to be instigated well after Mandela's release. Unfortunately, the later chapters often descended into a bit of a rant - and were much more about the author (railing against the SABC for example) than anything else.

Particularly good for its insight into the way apartheid South Africa worked - Magnus Malan's false claim that SWAPO's Anton Lubowski was a paid agent of the SADF, before he was assassinated (again, just before Namibia was granted independence).

Some more useful insights:
'I drew a lot from those memories and insights in later years when I had to take a personal position on the armed struggle and violent strategies in South Africa. It helped me to understand that the unnaturally violent nature of the crime wave that is still engulfing South Africa today is largely due to the brutal and excessive violence with which the apartheid system was defended, and to the mindless violence that often characterised the ANC and PAC's armed struggle and some of the internal uprisings'

Still don't quite grasp why he dislikes Mbeki as much as he does - maybe one has to read the newer book on 20yrs of democracy for some insight into his disillusion.

[Jenny Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now somewhat out of date (2003), but a fascinating insight into the career of controversial but thorough investigative journalist, Max Du Preez whose writing shook up the establishment in South Africa pre and post-apartheid.

Perhaps one of his greatest achievements was founding 'Vrye Weekblad', the only anti apartheid newspaper to be published in Afrikaans. Max reported from Soweto in 1976 and from Angola and Namibia in the 19080s. There are some hair raising stories, not least from those which came to light during the Truth & Reconciliation Commission concerning police and military death squads. These were vehemently denied by government and authorities at the time yet all proved to be true – perhaps only the tip of the iceberg.

I've also read fellow journalist Jacques Pauw's book, 'The President's Keepers' exposing the corruption around Jacob Zuma, so no surprise to discover that the two are firm friends and colleagues. The new government gave positions to a number of unsuitable people under Mbeki and when Du Preez accused him of womanising on air, he was fairly swiftly sacked.

Having read some of the more colourful stories, particularly about trips to visit exiled ANC members snd various 'junkets', I'm not sure that Max and I would be friends but he's a thunderingly good journalist.

[Liz Lobster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant brilliant book!

Not only informative on the history of South Africa from the 70's to current day, but also insightful on the identity crisis that many South Africans face today.

Kudos to Max and his mates for playing such a fundamental role in SA's history, despite suffering persecution from many parties. I wish more of us had the hutzpah to fight for the cause of justice despite likely fallout.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twenty-three years after its publication, I've only just read 'Pale Native'. I thoroughly enjoyed this revealing and informative account, but it's time for this feisty investigative journalist to tackle the quarter century of the 'New SA' that has just passed. We need it and there's no one better to write it. I admire Max du Preez for his grit, honesty and refusal to countenance any holy cows. He shares his personal history of growing up as a Free State Afrikaner, the burden of sins of the fathers, and their struggle with change. Who does not admire his courage in launching the vibrant 'Vrye Weekblad,' the mouthpiece for the verligte new generation of Afrikaners? A shame it was not sustainable financially, but it did succeed in exposing more of the horrors of apartheid, especially the National Government's hit squads, Vlakplaas atrocities, Lothar Neethling and others responsible at the top who gave the orders. Max du Preez deserves to be honoured as a national treasure, and the SA public needs to hear from him again..

[Karina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant journalism encapsulated with factual historical events, a must read!

[Marize De Klerk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Max's guts. A must read to all Afrikaans South africans

[David Macdonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

A startling read showing a young man from the Free State growing up to be a radio presenter, journalist, vagabond, enemy of the state, linguistic pioneer and all round pain in the arse. A must read

[Nic Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

A totally awesome book and recommended reading for all South Africans.............
Cap off to Max du Preez for "keeping your head while all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you......." Rudyard Kipling's poem certainly can be used in the high praise for Max's role during the turbulent and unsteady 70's and 80's in a South Africa that was beyond interesting......
What is truly wonderful about the book is that it is as much a story of Max du Preez as it is a history lesson for many people who were not party to the goings-on behind the scenes during the apartheid era followed by the excitement of the Madiba years, the lows of the Mbeki reign and the early days of the Zuma downhill slide.........
It lays to rest much of the "hidden" history of the Afrikaner and Max's view of a South Africa that can still be, told in his well known style of "warts and all" reporting.
This book was first published in 2003 and revised in 2010..........how interesting would it be to get Max's insights and comments of the past 6 years............the further rise of Julius Malema and the heady heights of corruption from within the ANC/SA state under Zuma?

[Sergio GRANDE · Rating 4 out of 5]

"History is against you, my brother" is a euphemism for "You're a good guy. But you're White and this is no longer a White man's country".

Brutally poignant, honest and realistic. Also, very well written.

Many white people who denounced Apartheid were automatically assumed to be silent partners of the new South African dispensation. And everything was OK while Mandela was on top.

But then the old man went, incompetence gave way to corruption and the same White people denounced those flaws. Suddenly they fell through the cracks. This is one of those stories.

By the way, I liked this book so much that after leaving my copy on an airplane barely one chapter from the end, I went out and bought a new one, just so that I could have it.

[Marcus · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only problem with this book is the use of the word 'pale'. It should have been called 'Your Crummy Life Pales in Comparison'. Max has a no-bullshit way of telling a story. In this case his own story intertwined with that of every other South African. He manages to patch up a lot of gaps in my understanding of South African history, especially the parts leading up to where the apartheid engine begins to seize up and the government's dirty-tricks operations begin to to come out of the woodwork. I especially liked the part where he tells Freek Robinson to go fuck himself. Every South African should read it.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Max is a journalist who writes a great memoir about being a liberal Afrikaaner during apartheid.

[Michael D'Offay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful and detailed personal look into the world of SA politics past and present. Max is pretty blunt and crude in places but I learnt a lot.