EAN: 9780143026198 Format:
Trade Paperback Release Date:
1 November 2009
Recommended Retail Price: R190
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Kristin Uys is a tough Roodepoort magistrate who lives alone with her cat. She is on a one-woman crusade to wipe out prostitution in the town for reasons that have personal significance for her. Although she is unable to convict the Visagie Brothers, Stevo and Shortie, on charges of running a brothel, she manages to nail Stevo for contempt of court and gives him a summary six-month sentence.
From Diepkloof Prison, the outraged Stevo orchestrates his revenge against the magistrate, aided and abetted by his rather inept brother Shortie and his erstwhile nanny, Aunt Magda, who believes mass action will force the powers that be to release Stevo.
Kristin receives menacing phone calls and her home is invaded and vandalised. Even her cat is threatened. The chief magistrate insists on assigning a bodyguard to protect her. To Kristin’s consternation, security guard Don Mateza moves into her home and trails her everywhere. Nor does this suit Don’s long-time girlfriend Tumi, former model and successful businesswoman, who is intent on turning Don into a Black Diamond sooner rather than later. And Don soon finds that his new assignment has unexpected complications which Tumi simply does not understand.
In Black Diamond, Zakes Mda tackles every conceivable South African stereotype, skilfully (and with the lightest touch) turning them upside down and exposing their ironies, often hilariously. This is a clever, quirky novel that captures the essence of contemporary life in Gauteng and will resonate with all South Africans.
Zakes Mda (full names: Zanemvula Kizito Gatyeni Mda) is a South African writer, painter, composer and film maker. He commutes between South Africa and the United States of America, working as a professor of creative writing at Ohio University, as a beekeeper in the Eastern Cape, a dramaturge at the Market Theatre, Johannesburg, and a director of the Southern African Multimedia AIDS Trust in Sophiatown, Johannesburg.
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South African Literature on another level
Date: 2010-08-26
I have read a number of international books
without any regard for SA literature honestly
and ingnorantly thinking it (local literature) is not
...
I have read a number of international books
without any regard for SA literature honestly
and ingnorantly thinking it (local literature) is not
worth it....cutting to the chase; On campus
(University of Johannesburg) I joined a group
ONE-BOOK-ONE-LIBRARY Project, took the book
on a 14 days loan and I must say WOW!!!
Mr Zakes Mda got himself a diehard fan.
I can not wait to meet him when he comes
to our campus. Black Diamond is a master piece.
The level of creativity in it is amazingly excellent.
Though he dicloses things that are currently happening
in our society and I strongly believe he shouldn't then
again it shows that he did a thorough research on the
subject matter of SA's black diamonds.Get yourself a copy,
I'm getting mine soon (as soon as I can afford it)
Kind regards
Mongezi Mosotho
By: Mongezi Mosotho
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