Hawks raid Pauw’s home
Journalist claims swoop is confirmation of book’s facts
THE Crimes against the State unit of South Africa’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (known as the Hawks) swooped on the Riebeek-Kasteel guest house of investigative journalist Jacques Pauw, armed with a search and seizure warrant.
Pauw, speaking to African News Agency (ANA), said he was “surprised they’ve only arrived now”.
He said the search was requested specifically by State Security Agency boss Arthur Fraser, who Pauw implicated in corruption in his best-selling book, The President’s Keepers.
Pauw said a colonel and two captains arrived yesterday to search for any “confidential information” in his possession. The warrant, issued by a Malmesbury magistrate, says Pauw “received the secret documents and information, that belongs to the State Security Agency of the RSA, knowing, or having reasonable grounds to believe, that such documents or information was being disclosed to him in contravention of the Protection of Information Act, (982 (Act 84 of 1982) between +- August 2016 to date”.
It says he also contravened a section of the Intelligence Service Act.
“Jacobus (Jacques) Pauw disclosed classified information or material entrusted to him by a member(s)/ former member(s) of the State Security Agency (SSA) of the RSA without the permission of the director-general in contravention of the aforesaid act, and it is unlawful.”
Pauw said he has contacted his lawyer in Johannesburg. Pauw and his wife, former journalist Sam Rogers, run a guest house, The Red Tin Roof. Since his book was published late last year, he has been investigated by the police and had court applications against him.
Last December, the South African Revenue Services (Sars) filed papers in the Western Cape High Court against him. Sars accused him of transgressing the Tax Administrations Act by disclosing confidential taxpayers’ information. At the time, Pauw told ANA that he was astonished when he received the notice of motion, but felt it was an admission that the revelations contained in his book were true.
An affidavit attached to the motion by Sars boss Tom Moyane quoted from about 15 pages of the book that contravene the act. These include payments made to former president Jacob Zuma and his son Edward Zuma.
Also in December, a criminal investigation was instituted against Pauw in Durban. Colonel Reuben Govender, who reportedly has a reputation for intimidating suspects, was the investigating officer.
The case was subsequently removed from him, and placed with the provincial head office.
PAUW SAYS HE IS SURPRISED THAT THE HAWKS HAVE ONLY ARRIVED NOW