PHUTI MOSOMANE
THE African national Congress (ANC) has strongly criticized ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba, accusing him of perpetrating one of the most audacious acts of deception in literary history.
According to a report in the Sunday Times, it was revealed that the book titled “Herman Mashaba” written by political analyst Prince Mashele, which was purported to be an unauthorized biography, was actually funded by Mashaba himself through an agreement between the two.
The report further disclosed that Mashaba paid Mashele a staggering sum of R12.5 million to write the book.
Earlier this month, Mashele’s book, “The Outsider: The Unauthorized Biography of Herman Mashaba,” was launched amidst much fanfare, said the ANC.
It said he book was presented as an independent and unauthorized account of Mashaba’s life. However, it has now come to light that Mashaba not only provided substantial financial support of R12.5 million to Mashele for conducting the “research,” but he was also actively involved in supplying information to Mashele throughout the writing process.
“An unauthorised biography is a book about a person’s life written without their permission or involvement in the book. This means that the subject being written about does not grant permission for the writing and publication of the book, and does not sit down for any interviews or in any way get involved in the process of data collection and analysis. Unauthorised biographies, even as they may not be privy to some information or corrections known only to the subject or the subject’s close friends and family, are considered as more objective and thus, tend to be regarded as a relatively more truthful account than those in which the subject participates in the shaping of the narrative,” said
Lesego Makhubela, ANC Gauteng spokesperson.
“This is precisely what makes Mashaba’s actions more problematic. He actively orchestrated a deception not only to the publishers of the book, but to the entire country and an electorate to whom he has presented himself as an ethical and moral person. Mashaba knowingly facilitated this unconscionable deception not only because he is a master of self-aggrandisement, but because he undermines the collective intelligence of South Africans, whom he has demonstrated great disdain with such an action.”
The ANC also directed its ire towards Mashele, who, they claim, knowingly participated in this elaborate deception.
the party said Mashele, who has portrayed himself as an independent analyst and a respected scholar, has now been exposed as anything but.
“By entering into an unethical secret agreement with Mashaba, Mashele has violated the principles of scholarship and scholarly integrity,” said Makhubela.
“Scholarly integrity dictates that Mashele should have acknowledged all his sources, including Mashaba, with whom he allegedly conducted numerous interviews throughout the writing process. However, by failing to do so, Mashele has not only compromised his own credibility but has also undermined the principles of honest and transparent research. This revelation raises serious doubts about Mashele’s previous work and casts a shadow over his reputation as a scholar and researcher of excellence.”
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