Vusi Mavimbela has served South Africa in various capacities, as described in his book. He was first a freedom fighter who joined the liberation struggle in realising a free and democratic South Africa, and then became a senior government official serving in two crucial government departments, the Presidency and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA). He served as adviser to former President Thabo Mbeki before he was deployed as Director General of the NIA. He then moved to the private sector for a short stint before he returned to the public service again as Director General to the Presidency under President Jacob Zuma between 2009 and 2010. After this, he became ambassador to Zimbabwe from 2011 to 2015. He is currently serving as South Africa's ambassador to Egypt.