It’s ‘not about the money’

Author and investigative journalist Jacques Pauw said on Facebook yesterday said he had been inundated with people wanting to pay for the free copies of The President’s Keepers circulating on the internet.

“I am not going to accept any money. This is my take: if you have a PDF copy and can afford to buy a book, please do it,” said Pauw.

“Erase the PDF and buy a book or the kindle version. If you cannot afford a book, go for it and read it. You have my blessing. This is not about money. It is about your support.”

Pauw noted he and the publishers were potentially facing a multitude of legal challenges, both criminal and civil.

“If you read the book, you will realise it is a tried and tested strategy of the State to legally wear out their enemies. This might well be another of those cases. It was incredibly brave of Nasionale Boeke and Tafelberg to publish this book. We have already incurred substantial legal costs.”

Exclusive Books has ordered another 15 000 copies, Pauw said.

In the moments leading up to publication, Pauw told The Citizen he had been worried about his personal security. “But the book has been published. I was worried, but I am not any longer.”

“What I have revealed is an orgy of depravity and venality, and if there is any attempt to stop the publishing of this book, it will be because they do not want you to know about it,” he wrote in his book.”