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Now or Never

Congo and Angola, shortly after the Congo received their independence from Belgium: Douglas – young and innocent – is caught up in the dirty politics seeking control of the mineral rich Katanga region.

This adventure would take Douglas on a journey of fifteen years. Trapped as a dog of war in the dark underworld controlled by the superpowers and greedy business cartels. Working under the guise of the Cold War, he has to learn how to adapt or die – and fast. Although his fate is beyond his own control and his existence is a lifestyle of daily survival, his dreams of freedom never abandoned him.

Douglas will have to survive many dangers and narrow escapes, leaving behind love disappointment, and making enemies who will haunt him later in life.

Now or Never is a fictional tale based on real events, augmented by the author’s imagination. This book is recommended in particular for readers who are in touch with Africa’s historical politics.

About the Author

Stephan Swart

Born and raised in the Eastern Cape on the foothills of Stormberg on 26 June 1957, Stephan Swart spent most of his childhood exploring the rivers, mountains and caves around his hometown of Burgersdorp. Before his 18th birthday, he qualified as a paratrooper with the South African Army and returned home more than a year later as a seasoned soldier.

After qualifying as an electronics engineer, Stephan became a project manager in the international arena, holding senior positions in Nigeria, Tanzania, Malaysia, Ghana and Myanmar to name a few countries where he and his family resided.

During his international career, he and his family had to prepare for evacuation. They have also experienced more than one tumulus election in Africa and survived many other life-threatening situations. He was on his way to Somalia when he was recalled to return home a few hours before boarding a plane to Mogadishu during the infamous Black Hawk Down incident.

After being forced into early retirement due to cancer in 2016, Stephan decided to take up writing as a hobby. While recovering from his illness, he began to pen down some of his experiences and life observations. It wasn’t until the first COVID-19 lockdown that he decided to start writing seriously and took the opportunity to incorporate the stories with his vivid imagination.

Like his first book “Until we meet again” Stephan attributes this book to the formative years of his life and interest in world politics.

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