Born in the same year as Prince Charles and the state of Israel, Lew Geffen was always destined to have an eventful and controversial life.

Driven by a maverick spirit and an acute eye for business, Geffen starts as a hawker, then moves into construction before shaking up the South African real-estate industry by launching Lew Geffen Estates.

A fiercely independent thinker, Lew knows no limits. Living much of his life by the seat of his pants, he embarks on a wild ride of success, securing a Sotheby’s International Realty master’s licence to become a major player in the local property market.

Along the way, there are highs and lows: he’s fired by his mother, Aida, gets harassed by the mafia, sells Nelson Mandela’s house, offers a mansion to Princess Diana, plays golf alongside Rafael Nadal and navigates the fallout of a murder at his company’s annual convention.

The tale of Lew’s extraordinary life unfolds with candour, laced with chutzpah, warmth and his wicked sense of humour.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lew Geffen's life has been a kaleidoscope of struggles, successes and a good dose of controversy. He's been a key player in the local property business for over four decades. Even though he's now supposedly "retired" he still attends board meetings and loves to play golf and travel.

'Soul Mandate: The extraordinary life of a property maverick' is published by Melinda Ferguson Books, an imprint of NB Publishers