In the 1970s, on the advice of the State Librarian, a truck transported thousands of books from Pretoria’s central station to a hall at the Iscor state steel company.

A crane dropped them into a 20-metre high oven where they were burned.

These books were burned for containing content that the Apartheid government saw as detrimental to the authoritarian regime that governed South Africa.

After the liberation, book bannings, burnings and other authoritarian practices were outlawed, so that people could exercise their democratic right to disagree with those in power.

Ace Magashule’s supporters clearly didn’t get the memo.

Here’s News24:

A group of protesters disrupted the launch of Pieter-Louis Myburgh’s book, Gangster State: Unravelling Ace Magashule’s web of capture, in Johannesburg.

The small group gathered at the launch at Exclusive Books in Sandton City on Tuesday evening and chanted: “Ace!”

They apparently ripped apart some copies of the book and threw the pages around.

Let’s go to some footage from the launch:

Protesters confronted and intimidated customers and attendees:

WATCH: Launch of the book #GangsterState by @PLMyburgh disrupted by protestors #AceMagashule pic.twitter.com/IeqDAfidmi

— Sowetan LIVE (@SowetanLIVE) April 9, 2019

More footage:

It’s at @PLMyburgh #GangsterState book launch @ExclusiveBooks Sandton City. Allegedly #AceMagashule supporters @MYANC via relatives pic.twitter.com/Y5WZo5S4iM

— Asha Speckman (@ashaspeckman) April 9, 2019

In related news, the ANC Youth League has announced that they plan on burning copies of the book, reports The Daily Maverick.

The Young Lions in ANC Secretary-General Ace Magashule’s home province, the Free State, have labelled Pieter-Louis Myburgh’s book Gangster State: unravelling Ace Magashule’s web of capture, which was released last week, as “puke”.

They are planning to burn the books at Mangaung’s dumping site on Monday, according to ANCYL Free State spokesperson Sello Pietersen.

They claim the book was written to undermine the “person and character” of Ace Magashule – something which, to be fair, he’s done a pretty good job of himself, even before the book was published.

“We wish to state it categorically that we are unapologetic about our support to the secretary-general of the ANC, Ace Magashule, who is a tried and tested product of the African National Congress, nurtured, grilled and baptised in the traditions and values of our movement. We, therefore, do not need any endorsement from white monopoly capital agents regarding his struggle credentials, we know them and shall defend him.

Yep, all the buzzwords are there. Sigh.

More from the ANCYL here:

Author Myburgh has responded to the events following the release of his book:

“It is unfortunate and sad that leaders would encourage people to do such a thing. If the allegations contained in the book are untrue, they must challenge them instead of instigating people to burn their copies. On the other hand, buying the book in large numbers will be a support in disguise,” he said.

When you know you’ll fail in court, all that’s left is thuggery.

You can buy your copy of the book here and here.

[source:news24&dailymaverick]