Winnie Mandela book to be withdrawn from shelves
Tafelberg publishers has apologised “unreservedly” to Redi Tlhabi, Sisonke Msimang and Palesa Morudu “for causing distress” to the three respected journalists and writers.
Their quotes on Winnie Madikizela-Mandela were used on the back sleeve to sell the Tafelberg book “Truth, Lies and Alibis: A Winnie Mandela Story” by veteran journalist Fred Bridgland.
Tafelberg said in its apology: “We are in the process of making amends and are contacting the affected journalists. We are removing the quotations from the cover for a new jacket for the book, and will replace it on the shelves with the rejacketed books wherever possible. The quotations will also be removed from online descriptions of the book.”
The three women say they were not asked if their words – published in various articles and not written as a “shout out” – could be included and are angry that they are being used to appear to endorse a book without their permission and whose views they do not necessarily support.
Bridgland’s book makes a strong case around the crimes that Madikizela-Mandela and her Mandela United Football Club are alleged to have committed and presents a mostly negative view of the freedom fighter.
Tlhabi, a well known broadcaster, author and journalist, wrote a scathing letter to Tafelberg which she released via WhatsApp.
She wrote: “You take a sentence in an article I wrote, and place it prominently at the back of the book knowing that readers will assume it would be interpreted as a ‘blurb’ or a ‘shout out.’ Even the most average reader would interpret a shout out as a statement of endorsement. People hardly write unkind shout-outs.”
Legal opinion sought by City Press by a leading lawyer who does not wish to be named is that: “My understanding of quotes and/or excerpts by other authors on book covers mean that they have read the book and as such they endorse it. I have never heard of a publisher doing what they did on this book, but I could be wrong.”
Independent
