In Eerie Assignment journalist Sizwe sama Yende tells of his experiences of being caught in this toxic environment of politically-motivated assassinations, corruption, greed and concerted efforts to manipulate the media.

From being ambushed at gun-point at his home, his car's brakes tampered with, being labelled a traitor and called all sorts of unsavoury names on social media and in person, tempted with bribes - he has survived and continues to do his work as a journalist.

Sizwe sama Yende takes us through the psyche of the province and the behind-the-scenes struggles that journalists endure to get that story. The situation is gradually getting better now. The political killings cases are, however, still unresolved. All the role-players are beginning to kiss and make up, but the wounds are still raw and will probably take time to heal.

"In this book - Eerie Assignment - Sizwe Sama Yende vividly captures the atmosphere of fear in Mpumalanga- families torn apart by bullets and terror; and survivors forced to live on their knees. It reads like a script from a Hollywood horror movie or work of fiction but its the naked truth - Mzilikazi wa Africa, author (Nothing Left to Steal)

About the author

Sizwe Sama Yende has been a journalist for sixteen years. He cut his teeth in journalism at African Eye News in Mbombela, Mpumalanga where he joined as a trainee when he was nineteen years old, late in 1997. He then moved on to work as City Press' Limpopo bureau chief in Polokwane and then returned to Mbombela in the same position in 2000. In between his journalism career, Sama Yende had a short stint as a media relations officer in the Greater Sekhukhune District Municipality in Groblersdal, Limpopo and writing fellow at the Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research. Eerie Assignment is his first book.

Eerie Assignment: A journalist's nightmare in Mpumalanga is published by Lesedi House Publishers