Bare VI Classic Series
By Jackie Phamotse
In order to get to the truth, we might have to burn the house down and rebuild it. It has been said that only rats come out to play at night. Yet eagles do not sleep. South Africa has been captured by criminals who seek to remain nameless. However, there is one man whom everyone fears.
South Africa is an illicit treasure, and the big Five Cartel is controlled by the Ghost who lives with lions.
On 6 July 2025, a press conference sets off a domino effect in a country with a bleeding heart. The kidnapping of a man opens a Pandora’s Box. It leads to a career criminal and his mysterious bosses. While he tries to escape the truth, he makes a deadly mistake. That mistake could bring down the entire pyramid.
A story of power, crime and corruption
While the General weeds out criminals, Imani Lebone meets a man she will never forget. A young pilot running a private emergency rescue company, Imani struggles to cope with her mother’s death. At the same time, she clings to her fragile business. That same business propels her into the hands of the man the General has been searching for. Many people watch as their lives unravel and others disappear.
In this thrilling love-and-hate story featuring some of the country’s most powerful figures, the truth finally comes to light. Gibson Kente is no ordinary businessman. However, his desire to possess Imani distracts him. In one moment of pleasure, the truth finally breaks free.
As the story unfolds, The Big Five Cartel exposes the dangerous forces operating beneath the surface of South African society.
The Big Five Cartel reveals the hidden mafias operating across South Africa. It explores everything from after-nine sex orgies to human trafficking and Machiavellian manipulation. The novel presents a gripping portrait of organised crime and the powerful individuals who operate behind the scenes.
About the author
Jackie Phamotse is a writer, businesswoman, social activist and philanthropist. Her debut novel, BARE I: The Blesser’s Game, was published in 2017. It received the African Icon Literary Award in Lagos, Nigeria, in 2018.
Her second book, I Tweet What I Like, drew inspiration from the late struggle icon Steve Biko’s I Write What I Like. Jackie won the 2020 South African Book Award for Best Fiction for her novel BARE II: The Cradle of The Hockey Club. She also received a nomination for a bestselling award from Nielsen BookScan and SAPnet in 2023 for BARE IV: Mercy.
Google recognised Jackie as one of South Africa’s most searched personalities in 2020. That same year, she received an award for her social activism at the Women of Wonder Awards. In addition, the Generational Wealth Foundation recognised her as one of the country’s most influential educators.
She was longlisted for the Sunday Times Fiction Award in 2025 for The Tea Merchant. She also received a nomination for the South African Book Award. On 25 April 2026, the Rand West City Local Municipality presented her with a Certificate of Recognition for perseverance and her outstanding contribution to the arts. Jackie’s primary objective is to create awareness of social challenges and develop long-term solutions to eradicate them.
- PUBLISHER | Penguin Random House SA |
- ISBN | 9781776393145 |
- Recommended Retail Price | R380.00 |
- Classification | Current Affairs, Local Fiction |