The End of Normal

In early 1976, as white South Africans danced to ABBA’s “Dancing Queen,” the Soweto uprising of 16 June shattered any sense of normality. As a young reporter, Max du Preez witnessed the first stones and shots that morning. Raised in a conservative Afrikaner Christian Nationalist family, he began questioning his upbringing and has since witnessed South Africa’s darkest and brightest moments. In The End of Normal, he reflects on apartheid’s roots, the lasting impact of 16 June, and how ordinary people supported injustice.

Max du Preez is a South African author, columnist, and documentary filmmaker, and was the founding editor of Vrye Weekblad. Vrye Weekblad Online was launched on 5 April 2019, again with Du Preez as editor. He is the recipient of numerous awards for his journalism. This is his eleventh book.