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The Reception of Eight Days in September by Frank Chikane

Booksellers love books like Eight Days in September. We love multiple print runs, huge dollops of media attention and controversial authors.

Eight Days in September is now being reprinted two days after it was launched. The next print run is said to be 15,000 copies. To put that in perspective, a bestseller in South Africa is usually about 3,000 copies. Out of the hundreds of books released monthly, I would estimate that less than twenty sell in the thousands. For a non-fiction book about political intrigue to enjoy this kind of publicity and demand is unusual. While some local books have been doing exceptionally well for the last year (Killing Kebble and Springbok Kitchen being prime examples), they don’t usually sell out in two days, no matter how small the initial print run.

Books LIVE has this to say about Eight Days in September:

Frank Chikane’s tell-all book which chronicles Thabo Mbeki’s 2008 removal from presidency, has caused a strong reaction amongst senior ANC members, says Ngwako Modjadji in The Citizen.

Modjadji suggests that this reaction has to do with Chikane’s claims about the way in which Mbeki was removed from office, an event Chikane says was linked to Jacob Zuma’s corruption case and resembled a coup d’état.

Responding to these claims, ANC spokesperson Keith Khoza says that Mbeki’s removal was a collective decision, and as such had little to do with Zuma.

However, in his book Eight Days in September, Chikane suggests that, while there could be many reasons given to explain Mbeki’s recall, “they do not explain the sudden haste with which it had to be done”:

The launch of the book was a massive success for both Exclusive Books Sandton City and Pan MacMillan SA. The guest list read like a parlimentary attendance register. For all the details, gossip and tweets, visit here.

Win an Eight Days in September eBook! To win, all you have to do is answer the following question: who was the interim president after Thabo Mbeki was removed from the presidency? 

Entries close Wednesday 21st of March at 10am. One entry per person.

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33 Responses to The Reception of Eight Days in September by Frank Chikane

  1. Nokuthula Ndlovu March 19th, 2012 at 6:07 am #

    (Now Deputy President) Kgalema Mothlante

  2. Johann Pollard March 19th, 2012 at 6:11 am #

    Kalema Motlanthe

  3. T.nagdee March 19th, 2012 at 6:14 am #

    Kgalema Motlanthe

  4. Tarah Childes March 19th, 2012 at 6:20 am #

    Kgalema Motlanthe

  5. Zwile Nkosi March 19th, 2012 at 6:43 am #

    Kgalema Motlanthe

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    Kgalema Motlanthe

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    Kgalema Motlanthe

  8. Phindiwe E. Magadla March 19th, 2012 at 6:52 am #

    Kgalema Montlante

  9. Dianne Humphrey March 19th, 2012 at 7:02 am #

    Kgalema Motlanthe

  10. Ntombifikile Ntshuba March 19th, 2012 at 7:25 am #

    Kgalema Motlanthe

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    Kgalema Motlanthe

  12. Tracey Visser March 19th, 2012 at 8:53 am #

    Kgalema Motlanthe

  13. Nontando Nojoko March 19th, 2012 at 8:54 am #

    Kgalema Motlanthe

  14. galeboe kefalotse March 19th, 2012 at 11:36 am #

    Kgalema Motlanthe

  15. KJ Mulder March 19th, 2012 at 1:22 pm #

    Kgalema Motlanthe

  16. Lucille Parkins March 19th, 2012 at 6:29 pm #

    Kgalema Motlanthe

  17. Thandi March 20th, 2012 at 6:15 am #

    Kgalema Motlanthe

  18. Gideon Joubert March 20th, 2012 at 6:17 am #

    Kgalema Motlanthe

  19. L Khoza March 20th, 2012 at 6:19 am #

    Kgalema Motlanthe

  20. Chumani March 20th, 2012 at 6:21 am #

    Kgalema Motlanthe

  21. Marc Hanson March 20th, 2012 at 6:22 am #

    Kgalema Motlanthe

  22. Margie Groom March 20th, 2012 at 6:34 am #

    Kgalema Motlanthe

  23. Andrew March 20th, 2012 at 7:07 am #

    Kgalema Motlanthe

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    Kgalema Motlanthe

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    Kgalema Motlanthe

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    Kgalema Motlanthe

  27. Tyron Govender March 20th, 2012 at 8:33 am #

    Kgalema Motlanthe

  28. Thembekile Majozi March 20th, 2012 at 8:46 am #

    Kgalema Motlhante

  29. Sarah March 20th, 2012 at 2:40 pm #

    Kgalema Mothlante

  30. Khaya Hatile March 20th, 2012 at 6:09 pm #

    Kgalema Mothlante

  31. Debbie March 21st, 2012 at 3:33 am #

    Kgalema Mothlante

  32. Comfort March 21st, 2012 at 4:33 am #

    Kgalema Motlhante

  33. Xolisa March 1st, 2013 at 1:44 pm #

    Kgalema Mothlante

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