Police raid author’s properties

Jacques Pauw denies he has any secret documents

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A search and seizure warrant obtained by anti-terrorism police shows authorities believe that Jacques Pauw‚ author of bestselling book The President’s Keepers‚ is in possession of secret intelligence documents.

The warrant‚ which Sowetan is in possession of‚ provides a glimpse into the investigation which the Hawks’ Crimes Against The State Unit is conducting into Pauw.

The document‚ signed off by Malmesbury magistrate J Jantjies earlier yesterday‚ shows that the raid on Pauw’s Western Cape home was conducted on the basis that police believe he has violated the Protection of Information Act and the Intelligence Service Act.

Pauw‚ speaking from his home‚ said the officers from the unit‚ which usually investigates terrorists‚ were searching his home‚ guesthouse and restaurant.

“They say that they are here to find any secret documents. If I had any secret documents‚ which I never did‚ I would definitely not keep them here‚” he said.

The warrant states that according to the contents of the book‚ Pauw received 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 between August 2016 to date”.

This shows that police also want to seize any notes or documents containing information related to the book and any material related to the alleged offences which Pauw is alleged to have committed.

Pauw’s bombshell book revealed details over the tax affairs of former president Jacob Zuma, among others.

Attempts to get comment from Hawks spokesman Hangwani Mulaudzi last night were fruitless. He, however, confirmed the raid on news channel eNCA.