Ahead of her book launch at the Book Lounge today, Thursday August 10, Vytjie Mentor, of Durbanville, has called on women fighting for the truth to be supported in the community.
Her self-published book is titled No Holy Cows.
While Ms Mentor has been politically aware and active since an early age, she does not define herself through that. Instead she defines herself by what her family taught her, through religion, doing good and always striving for the truth.
Ms Mentor was credited with exposing one of the biggest corruption scandals when she revealed she had been offered a high-end job in government by the Gupta family.
Ms Mentor said she started thinking about writing her memoirs when she was in her 30s.
“I’ve always done work in the community, been a part of the struggle. People should write their own stories,” the former ANC MP said.
But she put her writing on the back burner for a while and picked it up again after she turned 40.
“I was sick, and in and out of hospital since 2013. That was also when the Guptas landed a private jet at the Waterkloof airport.
“Government was getting away with it and I felt I needed to expose it.”
She said she felt the need to write this, initially on her Facebook page and then in a memoir.
Ms Mentor added that she had approached three publishers – who were interested but worried about using people’s names in the book – before deciding to publish the book herself.
She said through her book, she hoped to shed some light on state capture.
She also said four of the chapters in the book focus on sexual harassment she experienced during the time she was involved with the party.
Ms Mentor encouraged women to be more politically active within the community, but through social activism rather than necessarily being involved in political parties. She also called on the community to support women in their pursuit of the truth.
At the launch of No Holy Cows: Moments in My Political Life 2002-2017, Ms Mentor will be in conversation with journalist Jan-Jan Joubert.
To RSVP for the launch visit www.booklounge.co.za/2017/08/10/launch-of-no-holy-cows-by-vytjie-mentor/
The book is also available at Exclusive Books, Bargain Books and Amazon.com