SARS takes Jacques Pauw to court over publishing “confidential information”

The President’s Keepers author Jacques Pauw has been taken to court by The South African Revenue Services (SARS). On Tuesday, SARS filed papers in the Western Cape High Court against the investigative journalist.

Pauw is accused of publishing confidential information in his book that made numerous allegations against SARS and President Zuma, among others. In the affidavit, SARS commissioner Tom Moyane argues that Pauw revealed taxpayers’ information in his book. This, of course, would be in contravention of the Tax Administration Act.

“Such declaratory orders are imperative in order to give confidence to the public knowing that taxpayer information would not be willy-nilly disclosed by third parties who have no authority to be in possession of such information and to disclose it without consequences,” Moyane said

News24 reports that the publisher of the book, NB Publishers, were not served the papers. However, they will still be defending the application in the new year. The group told News24 that SARS has “conceded the truth of the parts in the book it names in the application”.

“We are proud to say we will defend our author and the book vigorously against Mr Moyane’s application because there is clear and compelling public interest in The President’s Keepersrevealing that President Jacob Zuma has perverted the law enforcement agencies of this country to hide the fact that he is not tax compliant and that he received a salary from Roy Moodley’s company while in office.”

The book is still being distributed and originally sold huge amounts as the State Security Agency sent two cease and desist letter to Pauw and the publishers. In an act of defiance, South Africans flocked to the stores and book launches in their thousands. You may also remember the infamous “power cut” that took place while Pauw was signing autographs at a launch in Joburg.