Author of Zuma book deflects multiple challenges

DIRECTOR-general of the State Security Agency (SSA) Arthur Fraser and his family yesterday demanded that investigative journalist and author of the best-seller The President’s Keepers, Jacques Pauw, retract the “lies” and “false allegations” in his book.

In a statement distributed for the Fraser family by Oryx Media, they accused Pauw of allowing himself to be manipulated, as well as trying to influence party politics and the 2019 general election.

The family denied Pauw’s allegation that a Fraser sister was married to “all-powerful” intelligence officer Graham Engel; the contention that Barry Fraser was the director of a company and NGO that benefited from an alleged intelligence operation dubbed PAN was also untrue; and the family also denied claims that 83-yearold Mrs CF Fraser was a PAN agent.

“That would be laughable if it wasn’t so hurtful and malicious. These ‘facts’ and others in the book are in fact lies,” read the statement.

The family said they supported the principle of a free press holding the government to account and contributing to the fight against corruption and abuses of power.

But they warned journalists that they have more responsibility than ever to maintain a critical distance from their subjects and check their facts before rushing into print.

“Failure to do so renders them political pawns.”

The family’s statement was released late yesterday afternoon. Pauw was not available for comment.

However, in an interview earlier in the day, Pauw reiterated his refusal to allow threats of legal action to sway him from promoting his book, despite the “multitude” of possible legal challenges that were being thrown at him.

He even went as far as to give his “blessings” to avid readers to read the “pirated” PDF copy of the book leaked on social media over the weekend.

The SSA has threatened to take the author and publisher to court today if the book is not recalled and certain parts of it expurgated.

Sars has accused Pauw of contravening the Tax Administration Act for revealing details of President Jacob Zuma’s tax affairs.

The book, which details allegations of corruption involving Zuma, has already sold over 20 000 copies.

Pauw yesterday told Independent Media that KwaZulu-Natal was in a “sad state of affairs” and that the province was mired in controversy and corruption, what with its being home to Zuma.

“A lot happens in KZN, and this book has it all recorded. The links with criminal enterprises go far back since long before he (Zuma) became president.

“Since his swearing-in as president, you would notice how many KZN people shot to the top,” Pauw said yesterday. He referred to leading KZN racehorse owner Chockalingam (Roy) Moodley, who he said had scored bigger and better tenders since Zuma became president. In an urgent question in Parliament last week, DA leader Mmusi Maimane called on Zuma to reveal the “relevant details” regarding allegations that Moodley had made large monthly payments to him as a private company for several months in 2009, while serving as president. Maimane said it was widely known that Moodley was a close friend to Zuma and a benefactor of the ANC. “He was also linked in 2016 to a disputed multbillion-rand Prasa IT contract, as well as to the election slate of ANC leadership contender Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma,” he said.

Maimane demanded an answer as to why a sitting president was on the payroll of a private security company “headed up by a wealthy friend and benefactor”.

Looking at other top KZN links to Zuma, Pauw spoke about Pietermaritzburg businessman and Delta Tobacco (now Amalgamated Tobacco Manufacturers) owner Yusuf Kajee. Pauw said Zuma had destroyed law agencies and placed his cronies to protect his friends and family.

“After Zuma began his presidency, you would have also noticed the expansion of Kajee and his business dealings. The Zuma family has many links with criminal enterprises in KZN. The family’s links with Crime Intelligence and the Hawks are also strong,” he said.

The President’s Keepers contains many explosive revelations about Zuma’s ties to underworld figures including convicted drug dealer Timmy Marimuthu.

Pauw said Marimuthu, believed to have been a police agent, had gained an “untouchable” status after Zuma came to power.

“We must also question why certain investigations, like the investigation into Zuma’s tax affairs and Kajee’s business dealings, have just disappeared. Those investigations were heated and soon died off. Then again I did say that Zuma destroyed law agencies for protection over his friends and family,” he said.

In a text message response to questions, Kajee said he had decided to take legal action against Pauw and that it was best he did not speak to anyone until the outcome of the legal case.

“I am sorry but I have lost faith in journalists. They are writing these to create hype rather than get the true chain of events out to the public,” Kajee said.

Durban-based businessman Vivian Reddy was also named in the book as a benefactor and close friend to Zuma. Neither Reddy nor Moodley responded to calls or text messages.