Redi's book on Khwezi racks up super sales

Photographer: Madelene Cronjé | Sunday Times

"It is one of the top-selling books on our shelves," said Exclusive Books GM of marketing Ben Williams.

A staff member at Jonathan Ball publishers, who asked not to be named because she is not authorised to speak to the media, also confirmed the book is doing well on the shelves: "It's number one in the Nielsen bestsellers list."

Radio talk show host and author Eusebius McKaiser, who interviewed Tlhabi at the book's official launch in Johannesburg on Wednesday, said: "Redi Tlhabi, in less than two weeks, has had two print runs. The publishers are on the third print run already of more than 10,000 copies."

All proceeds of the sales of Khwezi will go to Kuzwayo's family.

Tlhabi said she wrote the book because "we need to start reflecting on power relations in our society, whether from gender, the economy and whatever".

Kuzwayo, who was HIV-positive, accused Zuma of raping her at his home in Johannesburg in 2005.

Zuma denied this, saying the sex was consensual and he was found not guilty in 2006.

Kuzwayo went into exile following the trial because there were threats against her. She returned to South Africa last year soon before she died.

Tlhabi said Zuma was given so many moments in court to acknowledge - even as he maintained his innocence - that it was not the right thing to do and there had been an abuse of power.

"If we cared, not about the outcome of the case, if we cared about our moral DNA as a nation, if we cared about what we represent, what we stand for, such a flawed person would not have been our president. It is a reflection of us," Tlhabi said.