Eugene de Kock asked to leave Sunday Times Literary Awards shortlist event

Eugene De Kock was asked to leave the shortlist announcement for the Sunday Times Alan Paton Award after his presence upset other attendees on Saturday night.

His attendance atthe festival was for the book,Eugene de Kock: Assassin for the State, a biography by Anemari Jansen written with the full co-operation and consent of the former Vlakplaas commander, it was longlisted for the Sunday Times Alan Paton Award in April.

De Kock, who was known as “Prime Evil”, also attended at least one panel discussion, and was spotted by Books LIVE at the French Connection restaurant on Saturday afternoon.

According to the Books LIVE the internationally acclaimed author and former journalist Lauren Beukes, asked De Kock to leave the shortlist event when he was spotted. She told Books LIVE that there were black writers and publishers who were visibly upset by de Kock's presence. She said that there was talk of staging a walk-out in protest.

“...I was angry that the writers should have to leave an event celebrating them. I walked over to him standing by the stairs and asked if he was Eugene de Kock. I said, ‘It’s inappropriate that you are here. People are in tears that you are here and I think you should leave.’

“He said ‘Thank you for telling me’, and left.

“But this story is not about me. It’s about the black writers and publishers who were traumatised by having him there.

“Yes, we need forgiveness and yes, he’s served his time. We also need compassion and sensitivity about inviting him to a private party where there are people who have suffered terrible loss directly because of him.”

Sunday Times editor Bongani Siqoko said that De Kock was at the Sunday Times Literary Award event as a guest of the publisher of Anemari Jansen’s biography, not as a guest of the Sunday Times. “De Kock was not acknowledged in any way,” Siqoko says. “We only acknowledge the sponsors, authors and publishers at the Sunday Times Literary Awards events,” he told Books LIVE.

Thabiso  Mahlape, a publisher at Jacana Media said she was shaken when she realised De Kock was present at the announcement.

“I stayed away from the news of Eugene asking to be let out and eventually being let out,” she says. “I never imagined I would ever run into the man. In my head he would go find a farm and live as far as possible from people." she told Books LIVE.