CATEGORY

A South African of Indian descent, Mac Maharaj was a potent force in the Communist Party and African National Congress for nearly four decades. Tortured by South African security forces, he served twelve years in prison with Nelson Mandela and was able to smuggle out a painstakingly miniaturized copy of Mandelas autobiography. He continued to play a key role in the movement and participated in the negotiations that ultimately led to a free South Africa in 1994. In Mandelas new government, he served as minister of transport. Drawing on extensive interviews with Maharaj over the last eleven years, Padraig OMalley vividly captures the experiences of this South African freedom fighter. By telling Maharajs story, OMalley sheds new light on the decades-long battle against apartheid as well as the more recent struggle to build a free South Africa.