A Pretoria Boy: The Story of South Africa’s ‘Public Enemy Number One

‘A stalwart anti-racist and anti-apartheid campaigner.’ Doreen (Baroness) Lawrence

‘From fighting for Nelson Mandela’s freedom to exposing his betrayal under Jacob Zuma, a 50 year story of constant campaigning.’ Sir Trevor McDonald, broadcaster

The powerful and timely story of Peter Hain’s political life fighting South African apartheid and modern-day corruption.

Peter Hain has had a dramatic 50-year political career, in Britain and his native South Africa. This is the story of that extraordinary journey, from Pretoria to the House of Lords.

Hain vividly describes his anti-apartheid parents’ arrest and harassment in the early 1960s, the hanging of a close white family friend, and enforced London exile in 1966. After organising militant anti-Springbok demonstrations he became ‘Public Enemy Number One’ in the South African media. Narrowly escaping jail for disrupting all-white South African sports tours, he was framed for bank robbery and nearly assassinated by a bomb.

He used British parliamentary privilege to expose looting and money laundering in President Jacob Zuma’s administration, informed by his government ‘deep throat’, and likely influenced Zuma’s resignation. Hain ends by exhorting South Africa to reincarnate Nelson Mandela’s vision and integrity for the future.

Praise for A Pretoria Boy:

‘Peter’s gripping story and his passionate activism resonates with me over our common (African) childhood and exile in Britain.’ Natasha Kaplinsky, broadcaster

‘A tour de force over an extraordinary half century of campaigning for justice.’ Helen Clark, former New Zealand Prime Minister and United Nations Development Chief

‘Talk about courage and chutzpah - this young 'un helped topple apartheid!’ Ronnie Kasrils, former ANC underground chief and Minister