By Lungani Zungu
EFF leader Julius Malema is trying to get the new book of well-known author Jacques Pauw, Our Poisoned Land, removed from all bookstores.
Described as explosive, Pauw’s new book chronicles Malema and other EFF leaders’ alleged relationship with the controversial Italian tobacco smuggler Adriano Mazzotti.
Mazzotti is alleged to have funded the formation of the EFF in 2019.
Our Poisoned Land also digs deeper into how Mazzotti is funding Malema’s luxurious lifestyle – which he is not afraid of flaunting in public.
So far, it has sold 210,000 copies since its publication a few weeks ago.
NB Publishers, which printed the book, is unshaken, saying it will not retract the book.
“All the information in the book was properly sourced and lawfully published and demands for removal and apologies have been rejected,” the publisher said in a statement.
In a statement on Tuesday, the publisher said it had received an urgent letter from Malema’s lawyers instructing them to withdraw the book.
According to NB Publishers, the letter demands that “both Mr Jacques Pauw and NB Publishers unconditionally apologise to Mr Julius Malema, Mr Floyd Shivambu, Mr Ndlozi, and all other members of the Economic Freedom Fighters, for the negligent and mala fide publication of untrue, unverified, and defamatory allegations pertaining to those parties.”
Further, the EFF lawyer calls for the barring of any publication or republication of the allegations contained in the book “either now or in the future”.
Pauw hit back: “The EFF’s demands are reminiscent of similar attempts, almost five years ago, when then spy boss Arthur Fraser threatened to use intelligence legislation to remove The President’s Keepers from the shelves.”
The President’s Keepers, published in 2017, lifted the lid on the alleged crimes committed by Jacob Zuma’s allies on his government’s behalf while he was president. Then, a cease and desist letter sent by the State Security Agency to try and stop the publication of the book was criticised by various anti-corruption organisations as censorship.
The EFF, which boasts a well-oiled communication department, has yet to make an official comment about the book.
Even Malema who often uses his Twitter account with 3.6 million followers is mum.
Pictured above: Jacques Pauw
