On July 15, 1999 South Africa was shocked by the dramatic headlines: 'Slovo widow accused of corruption, mismanagement and trying to more than double her salary.'
The idea that Helena Dolny, widow of liberation hero Joe Slovo, could have gone so badly wrong captured the attention of the public. Gagged by her opponents, she endured a "trial by media" for months before the drama reached a climax in the Pretoria High Court. Then the billboards blazed: 'Judge trashes Dolny accusers.'
Written in an engaging style, this book is a window on the real world of boardroom dancing. It is a valuable business tool. It provides an insightful contribution to the renewed debate on corporate governance. On a personal level, it is also a story about betrayal and intrigue, which ultimately led to Dolny's departure from the Bank. Above all, it is South African contemporary history at its most fascinating.
