Arms Deal in Your Pocket - Paul Holden

At last! For those who don't know their corvettes from their combat suites, this book's timing is deadly accurate. The Arms Deal's taint of corruption has hovered spectre-like over South African politics since Patricia de Lille's document hit Parliament in 1999, but the plethora of newspaper articles, court cases, conspiracy theories and counter-allegations surrounding the deal still leaves many scratching their heads. This book starts at the roots and works its way to the present, telling the story in the simplest way possible. When the future of South African politics hangs in the balance, can you really afford not to understand why? The questions, and the answers: What was bought, and why? Who was involved? The book gives a cast of characters, a guide to the maze of companies, and a timeline; What was covered up? What charges does Jacob Zuma face?

Paul Holden is a freelance writer, researcher and historian. He has contributed to Peter Delius's collection on the history of Mpumalanga, and has worked as project manager and research co-ordinator for Johannesburg's Old Fort and the Sunday Times/SAHA Heritage Project. He is currently studying towards a postgraduate degree in South African history.