That is why the official launch of Yolande’s autobiography, 558 Days, took place at the school where late Pierre Korkie was a former teacher for almost 25 years. This was before the Korkie family relocated to Yemen in 2009 where Pierre was an English teacher. Yolande handed a copy of her book, telling the story of her and Pierre’s hostage drama to the school’s headmaster, Deon Scheepers, in the presence of learners, teachers and other guests this morning.    

"We have spent an incredible amount of hours on the school grounds with him (Pierre) and because the Grey Old Boys really supported us I wanted to give them something back. Before I was released they really supported the children and after I was released and we waited for Pierre, the support was amazing.” Yolande says she wanted to come and honour the school by launching her book at the school.

The couple was captured by a criminal group working for Al Qaeda on 27 May in 2013 in the city Taiz in Yemen. Yolande was released in January 2014 after successful negotiations by the South African disaster relief organisation Gift of the Givers (GOTG). Pierre remained a hostage and was killed later the same year in a failed US rescue attempt to free fellow American hostage Luke Somers. Yolande also handed a copy of her book today to GOTG representative in Yemen, Anas al Hamati, who lead the negotiations with  Al Qaeda for Yolande's and Pierre's release before he died.


Al Hamati says he was happy to see the school where Pierre was a teacher and he could feel Pierre's presence. "I felt Pierre is around this place. He is everywhere." Al Hamati also met some of Pierre's former learners - a satisfying experience.

The book recounts 558 Days since the couple's kidnapping, Yolande's release and Pierre's tragic death.

The book, which is also  available in Afrikaans, can be bought at  selected bookshops across the country. This includes Cum Books and Exclusive Books. Bloemfontein writer, Maretha Maartens, assisted Yolande and translated the text in Afrikaans.

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