Latest news with #Aboobaker
IOL News
23-07-2025
- IOL News
Inside South Africa's criminal underworld: 'The Customs Man' lifts the lid on corruption's deadly cost
Through 'The Customs Man', Zain Aboobaker does not just tell a story - he lays bare the human toll of systemic rot and offers a sliver of hope in the possibility of personal redemption. Image: Shelley Kjonstad In his debut novel 'The Customs Man", former customs official Zain Aboobaker offers an unflinching dive into the hidden world of smuggling, corruption and the deeply personal cost of doing the right thing in a compromised system. Set in modern-day South Africa, the story is as much a crime thriller as it is a commentary on the state of the nation - a place where justice is fragile, morality is tested, and the boundaries between law enforcement and lawbreaking are often indistinguishable. At the heart of the story is a dedicated customs officer whose moral compass is tested when he becomes entangled in a web of organised crime, internal betrayal and administrative corruption. As he navigates a dangerous professional landscape, he is forced to choose between upholding the law and protecting the people he loves - a decision that has life-altering consequences. The novel's protagonist is a reflection of the ethical dilemmas many face in a country where state institutions are under siege from corruption and criminal enterprise. What makes 'The Customs Man' stand out is its authenticity. Aboobaker draws from seventeen years of first-hand experience within SARS customs, where he eventually led the anti-smuggling division. After leaving the public sector in 2008, he launched a consultancy focused on customs and border issues, making him uniquely qualified to craft a narrative that feels both immediate and credible. The world he builds is populated with vibrant, complex characters, many of whom are inspired by real people he has encountered throughout his life - from colleagues and schoolmates to brief acquaintances and notorious figures within the customs ecosystem. The result is a cast of characters whose dialogue feels grounded and alive, their motivations as layered and conflicted as the society around them. What makes 'The Customs Man' stand out is its authenticity. Image: Supplied One of the most powerful scenes in the book involves a miner named Isak and a philanthropic doctor, Charlotte. In an emotionally charged exchange, Isak offers her a handful of illegally mined diamonds to be fenced in exchange for critical medical supplies for his impoverished community. Their intentions are noble, but the diamonds ultimately become part of a larger smuggling chain, funding contraband cigarettes and feeding the very system they aim to resist. 'That scene captures everything - the desperation, the good intentions, the system that traps even the well-meaning,' says Aboobaker. The novel tackles heavy themes: poverty, state failure, white guilt, the disillusionment with God and the pursuit of love and redemption. Aboobaker does not glamorise crime, as many popular thrillers and films tend to do. Instead, he confronts its brutal reality. 'People start in crime seeking material gain,' he explains. 'But once they have got that, it becomes about ego and control. They justify what they are doing or minimise the harm. They create a false narrative to live with the damage they are causing.' But this is not just a crime novel. It is also a deeply political and personal work. Aboobaker uses fiction as a lens to examine the broken promises of SA's post-apartheid democracy - a time that once held great hope for transformation, particularly for the marginalised. 'That hope has been stolen by greed,' he says. 'Especially for the poorest citizens - those who need education, healthcare, dignity. Fiction gave me the freedom to speak out against that betrayal.' Despite the complexity of the issues tackled, 'The Customs Man' is an accessible read. Aboobaker purposefully kept the language clean, avoiding graphic sexual content and excessive profanity to make it suitable for a broader readership. 'There is only one violent scene,' he notes. 'But given the story's setting in the criminal underworld, it felt necessary.' The book's structure also reflects a meticulous creative process. Aboobaker reveals that he struggled with the ending, shuffling the final chapters around until the conclusion landed with emotional and narrative weight. Interestingly, the novel both begins and ends with the same scene - a circular structure that underscores the cyclical nature of crime, justice and personal reckoning. Through 'The Customs Man', Zain Aboobaker does not just tell a story - he lays bare the human toll of systemic rot and offers a sliver of hope in the possibility of personal redemption. Image: Shelley Kjonstad When asked whether he would allow a screenwriter to change that carefully crafted ending for an adaptation, Aboobaker is clear: 'Only if it's better than what I've written.' He has already considered actors who could embody the protagonist should the book be adapted for the screen. South African actors Riaad Moosa and Rajesh Gopie come to mind - both of whom, he believes, could capture the moral depth and emotional complexity required for the role. And while the novel is cinematic in scope, with its tense pacing and vivid set pieces, Aboobaker is less concerned with screen success and more focused on what he hopes the book can spark: introspection, dialogue and perhaps a shift in how South Africans view justice. 'I think every person has an inherent sense of what's right and wrong,' he reflects. 'If you need a law or a religion to tell you, then something's already gone wrong. We live in a country where whistleblowers are assassinated outside courts, where the judiciary is under threat, and where the justice system is on the brink of collapse. "In such a context, your internal moral compass might be the only thing left to guide you.' Through 'The Customs Man', Aboobaker does not just tell a story - he lays bare the human toll of systemic rot and offers a sliver of hope in the possibility of personal redemption. Even for those who have made mistakes, he suggests, it's never too late to do the right thing.
IOL News
26-06-2025
- IOL News
The Customs Man by Zain Aboobaker
Durban author Zain Aboobaker with a copy of his novel, The Customs Man. Image: Shelley Kjonstad 'OR Tambo is the busiest airport in Africa, handling around twenty million passengers annually. Beneath the terminals, though, lies the darker side of this colossal hub — where baggage vanishes without a trace, and packages are surreptitiously swapped in and out of luggage,' says Zain Aboobaker. 'To me, the airport always felt like a malevolent force, perhaps because I knew there was no way to regain control over the smuggling operations happening there. In the end, the airport simply dismissed me as irrelevant. The greed that ran through it was entrenched, organised, insatiable… and it had no intention of being stopped.' This is the world that Aboobaker captures in his gripping debut novel, The Customs Man. Few travelers passing through OR Tambo International Airport — a place many associate with efficiency and order — would ever imagine it as a breeding ground for nefarious activity. Yet Aboobaker, drawing on his years of experience in Customs and Excise, paints the airport as something far more sinister. Between 1991 and 2008, Aboobaker worked in customs enforcement, and his novel offers a rare glimpse into the shadowy intersection of organised crime, enforcement, and the international smuggling trade. With sharp humour, deep empathy, and professional insight, The Customs Man takes readers on a pulse-pounding journey through a world few ever see. This book is, without question, one of the must-reads of 2025. Reflecting on OR Tambo, which most people view as a well-run international gateway, Aboobaker is cautious: 'My first assignment was at OR Tambo. The Customs building was just across the road, and it was clear that officials were involved in all kinds of shady dealings. Sadly, the airport is still a weak point in security to this day. Human trafficking is still happening there.' Aboobaker continues: 'Smuggling is woven into the fabric of society, happening right under our noses. What's legal and illegal become increasingly hard to distinguish.' The timeline of The Customs Man is significant, set between 2008 and 2010 — a period of deep political instability in South Africa. The country's law enforcement and various government agencies were under considerable strain during this time. The tensions began during the ANC's 2007 Polokwane conference, where then-President Thabo Mbeki was ousted in favour of Jacob Zuma, sparking uncertainty and chaos while paralysing government work. The political turmoil culminated with Mbeki's resignation on September 20, 2008, followed by the sudden departure of thirteen cabinet ministers and a crash in the value of the rand. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ But Aboobaker, while acknowledging these turbulent events, emphasizes that he's not interested in politics: 'I don't pay much attention to politicians. The game is the same, regardless of the team. I prefer to focus on the people behind the scenes—the ones caught up in the fight against smuggling.' Aboobaker didn't set out to be a writer. Born in 1970 in Overport, Durban, he grew up in a loving, middle-class family. After matriculating in 1987, he explored various academic pursuits before becoming a boilermaker in Richards Bay. But in 1991, he found his calling when he joined the Customs and Excise department. Over the years, he rose to national manager for the anti-smuggling division. His journey wasn't without frustrations. 'The system is slow,' he concedes, 'and there's a reason for that. Smugglers believe they'll never get caught. They're quick, nimble — always one step ahead. But eventually, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) catches up. It's like a machine that grinds down everything in its path, thanks to its weight and muscle.' He also acknowledges the smugglers' vulnerabilities. 'Their egos often get the best of them. They have so much money, they want to show it off. I remember a businessman who got caught for tax evasion because he boasted about his wealth in You Magazine — a tax official happened to read that issue and put two and two together.' But there's a flip side to the smuggling world: the risk faced by those working undercover. Aboobaker recalls the constant psychological toll it took. 'Going undercover means losing your identity. You start creating a persona, and it's hard to know where the character ends and you begin. But there's no psychological support for agents. You're just expected to push through.' Yet, despite the pressure, Aboobaker developed an empathy for those involved in smuggling. 'These people are human. They have families, loves, and dreams just like anyone else. It was easy for me to judge them at first, but once I got to know them, I saw them as human beings. And that's what's fascinating about people — they're multifaceted.' The Customs Man delves into the many layers of human nature and what people do to make a living in South Africa, from the small-time fisherman in the Western Cape who becomes entangled in the global abalone trade, to gangsters, human trafficking, drugs and the intricate operations of international tobacco smuggling. Aboobaker's approach is empathetic yet unflinching, offering readers a deeper understanding of the personal and economic pressures that drive people into illicit activities. One of Aboobaker's motivations for writing the novel was to raise awareness about the destruction of the abalone industry, a dire consequence of multinational commercial fishing. 'I want people to know about what's happening with abalone smuggling on our coasts,' he says. 'It's a real problem, and I hope the book inspires people to think about the human cost behind it.' The illicit tobacco trade is another key focus in The Customs Man, particularly its relentless battle with SARS. In 2023, SARS collected taxes on about 13 billion cigarettes, but an estimated 37 billion cigarettes were smoked. The difference? "The thriving black market,' Aboobaker explains. His novel offers a sharp critique of this ongoing issue, exploring the fine line between right and wrong in a system that's often broken. Aboobaker left Customs and Excise in 2008, disillusioned by the wave of change within the South African Revenue Service and the government under new leadership. 'You could see the new people coming in, the greedy ones, the ones with agendas,' he says. 'There was a brain drain. Many good people left because they saw the direction things were heading.' After resigning, he launched his own customs consultancy, but it wasn't long before personal circumstances led him to begin writing. A close friend's life-threatening illness was the catalyst for his writing. 'I started the book because of him and the many amazing people I met during my time in Customs. It was a way to honor them and capture the essence of their stories.' Writing the novel proved cathartic for Aboobaker, who had unresolved issues lingering from his time in the department. 'I was frustrated by the control certain superiors tried to exert over me, the way they decided which cases were worth investigating. I couldn't just keep following orders blindly.' The Customs Man isn't just a crime fiction thriller; it reflects the grim realities of life in South Africa. Aboobaker remains cautiously optimistic about the country's future. 'There are still good people in government, and I hope the corruption doesn't go any further,' he says. But he's also pragmatic, offering a perhaps tongue-in-cheek comment: 'Just look at the potholes. That's all the evidence you need.' The Customs Man retails for R290 and is available from (paperback), (paperback & ebook) and all good bookshops. SUNDAY TRIBUNE
The Citizen
09-06-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
New Bedfordview moms' club promotes wellness and community connection
A new moms' club in Bedfordview brought local mothers together for a special day of connection, relaxation, and wellness. Held on June 1 at the Spa and Wellness Retreat, the event featured a picnic and a variety of fun, interactive activities designed to foster a sense of community and sisterhood. Organised by Rizwana Aboobaker, the gathering was created in response to a lack of baby-friendly spaces for mothers in the Bedfordview and Edenvale area. ALSO READ: St Benedict's rugby team trains with top UK clubs on international tour 'There are plenty of moms' clubs, but not all of them welcome babies. So I decided to host a moms' picnic, not just for a day out, but to help moms get out at least once a month. 'People often don't realise that moms who are constantly alone with their babies can experience depression,' said Aboobaker. The initiative aims to become a regular fixture in the community, with monthly outings planned to encourage connection and provide mothers with much-needed social interaction and support. 'Next month, we're planning a trip to the zoo or another outing where we can include not only babies but also toddlers and older siblings. We'll be doing another picnic in September, hopefully even bigger than this one. 'The goal is to help moms meet other local moms and build a support network,' Aboobaker added. ALSO READ: St Benedict's rugby team trains with top UK clubs on international tour One of the highlights was a self-defence demonstration by Blackbelt Martial Arts Taekwondo Academy, aimed at empowering both the mothers and children with basic safety skills. Fitness and well-being were also front and centre. Pilates instructor Natasha Cordeiro led the moms through a gentle session designed to refresh both body and mind. 'As a mom myself, I know how exhausting and overwhelming it can be when your children are still little,' said Cordeiro. 'We give so much to our families, but it's crucial to prioritise our health. The stronger and more balanced we are, the better we can care for our children.' Cordeiro emphasised the importance of taking time out, even if it's just for an hour for Pilates or yoga. 'So many women prioritise their families and forget themselves. To care for others, we need to be well ourselves. You can't pour from an empty cup.' At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
