Books
Together with Matthew Blackman I write ‘irreverent histories’ of South Africa which are published by Penguin. Our latest book, Spoilt Ballots (Feb 2022), details the elections that have shaped our benighted nation from Shaka to Cyril. Rogues’ Gallery (2021), meanwhile, lifts the lid on 350 years of fiendish corruption in South Africa.
In a previous life I used to write novels and short stories too. You can see a few excerpts below.

Spoilt Ballots
The Elections that Shaped South Africa, from Shaka to Cyril
If you paid even a moment’s attention during high-school history lessons, you probably know that 1910 brought about the Union of South Africa, that the 1948 general election ushered in apartheid, and that the Rainbow Nation was born when Madiba triumphed in the country’s first democratic elections in 1994.
Spoilt Ballots dishes the dirt on these pivotal events in our history. But it also sheds light on a dozen lesser-known contests, starting with the assassination of King Shaka in 1828 and ending with the anointing of President Cyril at Nasrec in 2017.
The book will leave you wondering if Oom Paul Kruger’s seriously dicey win in the 1893 ZAR election might have paved the way for the Boer War and whether ‘Slim Jannie’ Smuts really was that slim after all. It shows how the Nats managed to get millions of English-speakers to vote for apartheid and why the Groot Krokodil’s attempt to co-opt coloureds and Indians into the system backfired spectacularly.
Entertaining and impeccably researched, Spoilt Ballots lifts the lid on 200 years of electoral dysfunction in our beloved and benighted nation.

Rogues’ Gallery
An Irreverent History of Corruption in South Africa, from the VOC to the ANC
If you reckon corruption in South Africa began with Zuma or even with apartheid, it’s time to catch a wake-up call.
Rogues’ Gallery tells the story of some of the biggest skelms to grace our (un)fair shores, showing that dodgy dealings have been a national pastime for as long as South African history has been written down.
The action starts with the machinations of three rotten colonial governors. Next up we have Cecil John Rhodes poisoning the land with theft, fraud and war, and Oom Paul Kruger’s corrupt and compromised Volksraads. Readers are then treated to apartheid’s finest feats in corruption: from the Broederbond’s perfect ten in state capture to the Department of Information’s peddling of fake news. And let’s not forget the hotbed of corruption that was the ‘independent’ homelands.
Add to this a few murders, plenty of nepotism and a state president who started out as a Nazi spy, and the gallery of rogues is complete. Irreverent, entertaining and impeccably researched, Rogues’ Gallery busts the myth that the Zuptas were the first to capture the South African state, showing that corruption has always been around – and that the tricks politicians play haven’t changed a jot.
What others are saying:
- If it were up to me this book would be in every school in the country!Marianne Thamm, Daily MaverickClick to see full review
- The more people who read it in South Africa, the better our chance of defeating those who use power for personal material gain.Andrew Feinstein, author of After the PartyClick to see full review
- An important book which is a must-read for anyone who wants to talk about corruption in SA.Theunis Engelbrecht, RapportClick to see full review
Spoilt Ballots interviews
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Daily Maverick Webinar with Rebecca Davis
Daily Maverick
A wide-ranging discussion with the brilliant Rebecca Davis -
Interview with Mandy Wiener on 702
702 / Cape Talk
We had a great chat about electoral fraud, the Rand Revolt and the upcoming ANC Conference. -
Radio interview about Spoilt Ballots with Shafiq Morton
VOC FM
A wide ranging discussion about the history of democracy in South Africa. -
Polity Interview with Thabi Madiba
Polity.org
We chat to Thabi Madiba about Spoilt Ballots. -
Exclusive Books virtual launch with Nickolaus Bauer
Exclusive Books
A really enjoyable evening with the inimitable Nickolaus Bauer. -
Interview with Chad Thomas on Chai FM
Chai FM
A lengthy and wide ranging interview about the past, present and future of democracy in South Africa.
Spoilt Ballots reviews
Reviews of Spoilt Ballots: The Elections that Shaped South Africa, from Shaka to Cyril.
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SA’s bizarre and brutal centuries at the polls
The Herald
Great review of Spoilt Ballots by The Herald's John Harvey. -
The elections that shaped SA, from Shaka and Cecil to Cyril
Financial Mail
A really fantastic, detailed review of Spoilt Ballots. -
How 200 years of election dysfunction helped shape South...
Daily Maverick
A write-up of our Daily Maverick webinar with Rebecca Davis -
A beautiful book by two talented journalists
LitNet
An English translation of the fantastic LitNet review -
’n Pragboek deur twee bekwame joernaliste
LitNet
An absolutely glowing review of Spoilt Ballots (in Afrikaans) -
Spoilt Ballots dishes the dirt on elections
Independent on Saturday
A review of Spoilt Ballots which appeared in the Independent on Saturday.
Spoilt Ballots excerpts
Excerpts from Spoilt Ballots: The Elections That Shaped South Africa, from Shaka to Cyril.
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Opening Pandora’s box at Polokwane
News 24 (paywall)
An excerpt from Spoilt Ballots about the ANC conference at Polokwane in 2007. -
Dingane has his day
Daily Maverick
An excerpt from Spoilt Ballots pertaining to the succession battle after the assassination of King Shaka. -
‘Eenheid’ wen toe verkiesing
Beeld
An Afrikaans translation of an excerpt about the ANC electoral conference at Nasrec in 2017.
Spoilt Ballots articles
Articles related to Spoilt Ballots: The Elections that Shaped South Africa, from Shaka to Cyril.
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When the air force bombed Joburg and the streets ran with...
Sunday Times
An article I wrote commemorating the centenary of the Rand Revolt. -
Faith against machine guns
Sunday Times
In remembering the bloodshed and grief of the Bulhoek Massacre, the hope is that we also learn from it. -
Dying for their freedom
Financial Mail
An article commemorating the centenary of the Bondelswarts Rebellion, a fascinating but largely forgotten blot on our history. -
Leaving a Sauer taste — the legs of apartheid linger in...
Daily Maverick
Why is SA's premier wine named after the guy who came up with the blueprint for apartheid? -
Poles Apart
Financial Mail
South Africa's fascinating tale of two flags. -
Remembering Black Friday
News 24 (paywall)
Another piece I did on the centenary of the Rand Revolt: this one focused on the causes and implications. -
Coelacanths 1; Apartheid 0
Financial Mail
When DF Malan lent a scientist a military plane to fetch a fish from the Comoros. Fact is stranger than fiction. -
Why history matters
Daily Maverick
A column where we discuss a topic that's rather close to our hearts.
Rogues' Gallery reviews
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Andrew Feinstein’s video review of Rogues’...
Youtube
Andrew Feinstein explains why you really should read Rogues' Gallery. -
How looting became part of our DNA
The Sowetan
In this review of Rogues' Gallery, Karabo Ledwaba writes that "Blackman and Dall have written one of the most relevant books of the year." -
Skelms deur die tye
Landbouweekblad
South Africa's most loved farming magazine gave Rogues' Gallery the thumbs up. -
Woeful tale of SA’s historic political skulduggery
Independent on Saturday
Rogues' Gallery is a result of meticulous research, matched by fascinating insight into the unsavoury peddling and meddling of South African politicians, often related with a touch of incisive humour. -
In gallery of rogues Van Riebeeck and Zuma stand shoulder to...
Business Day
A review of Rogues' Gallery which appeared in Business Day. -
Rogues have stalked SA’s corridors of power for...
Daily Dispatch
A review of Rogues' Gallery which appeared in both the Daily Dispatch and the Weekend Post. -
Pronkvöels van eenderse vere…
Rapport
A glowing review of Rogues' Gallery which appeared in the Afrikaans paper Rapport. -
A (seemingly) never-ending story: Corruption in South Africa
Daily Maverick
A write-up of our Daily Maverick webinar with Marianne Thamm
Rogues' Gallery interviews
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Interview with Bruce Whitfield on Radio 702
702 / Cape Talk
A very entertaining chat with Bruce Whitfield on The Money Show. -
Daily Maverick webinar with Marianne Thamm
Daily Maverick
A recording of the online launch of Rogues' Gallery -
SA’s state capture warriors discuss blowing the...
News 24 Frontline
We were honoured to join Themba Maseko and Mosilo Mothepu in a panel discussion with News 24 editor-in-chief Adriaan Basson. -
OFM Nights: Rogues’ Gallery radio interview
OFM
Matthew and Nick catch up with Renaldo Schwarp. -
Exclusive Books virtual launch with Andrew Feinstein
Exclusive Books
Chatting to Andrew Feinstein about uncovering and fighting corruption is always a pleasure. -
Interview with Nickolaus Bauer on 702
702 / Cape Talk
We had a great time chatting to Nickolaus about Rogues' Gallery and we also spilt the beans on our second book. -
Mandy’s book of the week: Rogues’ Gallery
702 / Cape Talk
Mandy Wiener interviews Matthew and Nick about Rogues' Gallery. -
Polity.org video interview
Polity.org
Matthew and Nick chat to Sane Dhlamini. -
Radio 702 interview with Aubrey Masango
702 / Cape Talk
We talked to Aubrey about Rogues' Gallery.
Rogues' Gallery articles
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The tender-loving touch of friends with benefits
Financial Mail
This Financial Mail cover story which lifts the lid on three centuries of crony capitalism in South Africa was based on our research for Rogues' Gallery. -
Déjà vu at the Zondo show
Sunday Times
Zondo is by no means alone. South Africa has a long and disappointing history of Commissions of Inquiry into State Capture. -
350 years of fearless South African whistleblowers
News 24 (paywall)
Meet the fearless South Africans who have spoken truth to power since at least 1700. -
Inside SA’s Sin City
Financial Mail
How Sol Kerzner managed to get Lucas Mangope, the apartheid government and Madiba to lubricate his roulette wheels. -
The Press for Freedom
Financial Mail
Researching this story about 200 years of South African press freedom (and otherwise) was utterly fascinating. -
Better never than Luyt
Financial Mail
Louis Luyt epitomised the morally bankrupt hollow man that’s been pulling the wool over South Africans’ eyes throughout our history -
Whistleblowers should be last line of defence, not our only...
News 24
It’s a sad state of affairs when people are more scared of blowing the whistle than they are of committing a crime. -
Plunder of biblical proportions: The Ten Commandments of...
Daily Maverick
Our dear, dastardly leaders have adhered to 10 crooked commandments with an almost evangelical fervour. -
SA’s long, long history of Land Grabs
Financial Mail
We explore why South Africa's land problems date back to at least 1652.
Rogues' Gallery excerpts
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Rhodes attempts to buy the 1898 election
New Frame
A lightly edited excerpt from Chapter 6 of Rogues' Gallery. -
Korrupise en Monopolie
Beeld
An Afrikaans translation of an excerpt from the Paul Kruger chapter of Rogues' Gallery. -
‘Rogues’ Gallery’ puts Jacob Zuma’s corruption into...
Daily Maverick
An entertaining excerpt from the final chapter of Rogues' Gallery. -
Book extract: How the Broederbond captured the apartheid...
LitNet
An extract from Chapter 7 of Rogues' Gallery. -
Book Extract | The Matanzima brothers’ spectacular...
City Press
An extract from Chapter 10 of Rogues' Gallery.
Creative writing
I did an MA in Creative Writing, and fiction is my first love. A short story of mine appeared in an anthology selected by JM Coetzee. And my first novel, Holiday Town, was shortlisted for the EU Literary Award.
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EU Literary Award Winners
The African Book Publishing Record, 2007
Announcement of the winners of this award. -
You should have called me Narcissus
African Compass, 2005
My award-winning short story. -
Holiday Town
The first chapter of my first novel. -
Saint Alf
A short story highlighting the ecological exploitation in Betty's Bay.