Hawks unit searches Pauw’s home for ‘secret’ papers
A SEARCH-AND-SEIZURE warrant obtained by anti-terrorism police shows authorities believe that Jacques Pauw‚ author of the bestselling book The President’s Keepers‚ is in possession of secret intelligence documents.
The warrant provides a glimpse into the investigation being conducted by the Hawks’ Crimes Against The State Unit into Pauw.
The document‚ signed off by Malmesbury magistrate J Jantjies earlier yesterday‚ shows that the raid on Pauw’s Western Cape home in Riebeek Kasteel was conducted on the basis that police believe he has violated the apartheid-era 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,” he said.
“If I had any secret documents‚ which I never did‚ I would definitely not keep them here.”
The warrant states that according to 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.
“Jacobus [Jacques] Pauw disclosed classified information or material entrusted to him by member(s)/former member(s) of the State Security Agency of the RSA without the permission of the director-general in contravention of the aforesaid Act‚ and it is unlawful.”
The warrant outlines how police were searching Pauw’s home to seize “software/copy or manuscript” used for the book, as well as any computers or laptops or electronic items either used for or containing evidential material relating to the production of the book.
It 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, including that he was paid a R1-milliona-month salary for at least four months after he became president in 2009 by a company owned by controversial Durban businessman Roy Moodley.
In the book‚ Pauw paints a damning picture of the corrupt cabal that assisted Zuma to gain power and then kept him there.
Pauw is being taken to court by the South African Revenue Service, which is seeking to have the courts declare that Pauw contravened confidentiality clauses in the Tax Administration Act by publishing information about Zuma’s tax affairs and, in so doing‚ broke the law.
In December‚ SAPS Colonel Reuben Govender summoned Pauw and News24 investigative journalist Pieter Louis-Myburgh to a Durban police station to answer questions over the contents of the book and reports. Both men refused.
Govender was later removed as the investigating officer.
Pauw’s publisher‚ NB Publishers‚ issued a scathing statement on the raid.
“We condemn this jackboot move in the strongest of terms and stand by our author and the right of the South African public to know how our law enforcement agencies go about their business,” it said.