The South African Revenue Service (Sars) has confirmed that it has filed papers in the High Court in Cape Town against investigative journalist, Jacques Pauw. This follows the publishing of his book- ‘The President’s Keepers’.
In the book, Pauw makes allegations of an allegedly corrupt relationship between SARS Commissioner, Tom Moyane and President Jacob Zuma.
Sars says Pauw published confidential information about a tax payer’s affairs, which was in contravention of the Tax Administration Act in his controversial book, “The President’s Keepers”.
“In the popular book the author clearly contravenes the law because he goes into detail and provides information pertaining to a specific tax payer’s affairs. Then of course he goes on to make allegations that the commissioner of Sars is in collusion with a specific tax payer to advise and urge them to avoid their tax obligations. The matter is now in the hands of the police who presumably will be busy investigating it further,” says Sars spokesperson Sandile Memela.
But the book’s author says he is not concerned by the South African Revenue Service filing court papers. Pauw says he had been served with court papers last week which contained an affidavit by Moyane. He says he’s yet to consult with his lawyer, but stands by his book.
“He mentions among others, the illegal payment to Jacob Zuma by Roy Moodley. He mentions his son Edward Zuma and then Mr Moyane says in these instances you have contravened an Administration Act. What is very important here is I could not have contravened the Tax Administration Act. If what I had published is not true, if I had published false information it would be fiction. I could not have contravened any Act; so in any essence Tom Moyane is confirming what I have published in my book.”
Neither parties could confirm when the matter will be heard in the High Court in Cape Town. Pauw’s has been sold out for several months in book shops.
Click below for more on the story:
