Festival Pass (Day Time Events Only)

Enjoy access to all Festival of Books day time events.

*Festival Pass exclude evening events

FRIDAY 7TH MARCH

Our Long Walk to Economic Freedom

Why we live better than our ancestors

Venue:  Thesen Harbour Town (TH18)

Time:  08h30 – 09h30

Why does one group flourish, but another continues to struggle? Do we have better lives than our ancestors? Fourie asks and answers the questions, showing in his unique and engaging style why the builders of societies – rather than the burglars – ultimately win. Prof. Johan Fourie, internationally renowned expert on African Economic History, in conversation with Prof. Mervyn King.

The Super Cadres

Key questions, critical observations and a damning conclusion

Venue:  Thesen Harbour Town (TH18)

Time:  10h00 – 11h00

The ANC has ruled South Africa for three decades during which time the country has gone from the promise of the Rainbow Nation to disfunction and despair. In The Super Cadres, bestselling author Pieter du Toit examines this legacy from the early halcyon days through to the current Ramaphosa presidency.  Seasoned journalists and political observers Pieter du Toit and Ferial Haffajee, take a hard look at where we are and how we got here.

Capitec. Stalking Giants

An inspirational, authentically South African story with a good ending

Venue:  Thesen Harbour Town (TH18)

Time: 11h30 – 12h30

The gripping tale of a small team of entrepreneurs that in the early 2000's turned a small microlending network into a challenger bank. Professor of Economics Johan Fourie, talks to top-selling business author TJ Strydom about this inspirational, authentically South African story.

Life Lessons

It is possible to find success by stumbling from one disaster to another

Venue:  Thesen Harbour Town (TH18)

Time: 13h00 – 14h00

Known as the 'Weapon of Mass Financial Destruction', Alan Knott- Craig shares his wins, losses and lessons and how he was able to rebuild his own confidence and that of his peers. Alan tells his story with classic dry humour, sprinkled with brilliant nuggets and juicy behind-the-scenes insights. He provides a rare glimpse into the realities of entrepreneurship and valuable insights for anyone building a business.

The Corporate Revolutionary

“You cannot separate the economy from the planet, or from the people”

Venue:  Thesen Harbour Town (TH18)

Time: 14h30 – 15h30

An extraordinary visionary, Mervyn King, known as the guru of corporate governance and sustainability, has transformed the global business landscape with his belief that accountants can save the planet. He shares the story of his fascinating life in Law, Business and Governance. 

The First-Generation Founder

How to build a start-up mindset, and thrive

Venue:  Thesen Harbour Town (TH18)

Time: 16h00 – 17h00

Raymond shares how he successfully migrated from a career in banking to a life of entrepreneurship taking the helm at a struggling business and navigating the challenges. Plunged into the unknown, he tells how he has navigated his own knowledge gaps, the scarce skills problem in South Africa, government red tape, the venture capital environment and building market share for his businesses.

SATURDAY 8TH MARCH

Women who do crime

An insight into killers, cops, casualties and survival

Venue:  Thesen Harbour Town (TH18)

Time:  09h00 – 10h00

Jo Macgregor, author and psychologist, looks behind the scenes at writing crime in SA with award-winning podcaster Nicole Engelbrecht, whose unprecedented new book featuring interviews with serial killers provides chilling perspective, and Juliette Mnqueta, Knysna author and crime fiction addict.

Hell Run Tobruk. A Jack Pembroke novel

Meet the creator of this popular series

Venue:  Thesen Harbour Town (TH18)

Time:  10h30 – 11h30

Justin Fox shares about his life as a successful writer, editor and journalist across many genres and gives us insight into the story behind his bestselling WWII military adventure books starring popular hero Jack Pembroke.

The Tannie Maria murder mystery series

Everyone’s favourite amateur detective and agony aunt

Venue:  Thesen Harbour Town (TH18)

Time:  12h00 – 13h00

Set in the Klein Karoo where Tannie Maria solves crimes while sharing heart-warming wisdom and recipes. Sally Andrew is the author of the bestselling Tannie Maria mysteries, books that have been translated into fourteen languages across five continents and a TV series. Meet the author and enjoy a delicious treat - to die live for from Tannie Maria's cookbook.

Twice the Glory

The Making of the Greatest Bok Team in History

Venue:  Thesen Harbour Town (TH18)

Time:  14h00 – 15h00

In 2017 the Boks looked punch-drunk as they were being overpowered by Ireland. The following year, the coaching duo. Jacques Nienaber and Rassie Erasmus. took up the reins little more than 18 months before the 2019 RWC in Japan. And so began a journey that was to end in victory in the Stade de France six years later. A deep inside look at the Bok story of this era. Filled with drama, cheers and tears, it will have you on the edge of your seat as you relive each nail-biting moment. It’s all here: the Covid disruption, Siya Kolisi’s rise, Rassie in hot water, injuries, the new talent…

I will not be silenced

“Brave and brilliant”

Venue:  Thesen Harbour Town (TH18)

Time:  15h30 – 16h30

Karyn Maughan is an award-winning journalist, documentary producer and best-selling author. She is the only journalist who has been covering the Jacob Zuma corruption case from the start and still reporting on him and now finds herself his target. Honest and deeply personal, it takes a razor sharp look at how powerful men attack individuals, the media and the courts, undermining democracy.