Sars drops Pauw action

The South African Revenue Service (Sars) has dropped its legal action of author and journalist Jacques Pauw, related to claims made in his book, The President’s Keepers, which it alleged violated tax laws.

Pauw’s publisher, NB Publishers, announced yesterday it had received correspondence from Sars regarding its intention to drop the litigation against him.

According to NB Publishers, acting commissioner Mark Kingon said he “considers this litigation unfortunate”.

Kingon apparently said the revenue service was working hard to “restore the public confidence in Sars”.

Kingon is acting in the role formerly occupied by suspended commissioner Tom Moyane, whose suspension came in the wake of damaging allegations made against him and several others in Pauw’s book.

These include that former president Jacob Zuma perverted the law enforcement agencies of South Africa to hide the fact that he was not tax-compliant and that he received a salary from a private company while in office.

The investigation against Pauw followed charges laid by Sars under Moyane, alleging he published confidential tax information in the book, which was in contravention of the Tax Administration Act.

NB Publishers, which defended Pauw against the court action, said in its statement: “We are proud to have stood by our author and the book, which brought to light important information and played a role in breaking up the Zuma cabal that has only its own interests – and not that of the country – at heart.

“Pauw is a highly respected, experienced investigative journalist, and his book was written and published with the utmost integrity.”