Description
Witness to Power: A Political Memoir by Mathews Phosa offers an insider’s view of South Africa’s political evolution over the past five decades. From his early involvement in the Black Consciousness Movement, the UDF, and the ANC, to his exile as an Umkhonto weSizwe commander in Mozambique, Phosa provides a firsthand account of the struggle against apartheid and the complex negotiations that shaped a democratic South Africa. Returning to the country as one of the first ANC members to prepare the way for talks, he played a pivotal role in the transition to freedom.
Phosa’s memoir spans his tenure as premier of Mpumalanga under Nelson Mandela, his experiences with Thabo Mbeki, and his complicated relationship with Jacob Zuma, including his time as ANC treasurer-general and later as a critic of Zuma. It also explores his longstanding friendship and collaboration with Cyril Ramaphosa, including their work together during the Phala Phala report crisis. The book combines political intrigue, underground activism, military operations, and high-level negotiations to provide a nuanced portrait of South Africa’s ruling party and its leaders.
A compelling read for anyone interested in South African history, politics, and leadership, Witness to Power offers rare insights from an ANC elder who witnessed and influenced the country’s defining moments.
