'I was never scared' - Jacques Pauw after SARS drops litigation
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has dropped its litigation against investigative journalist Jacques Pauw, after initially charging that he published confidential information in his book The President's Keepers.
NB Publishers said on Friday it was "delighted" to announce the withdrawal of the case, following legal correspondence from SARS this week.
The publishing house was told that acting commissioner Mark Kingon "considers this litigation unfortunate" and was "working hard to restore the public confidence in the SARS".
In his book, which was published in October last year, Pauw alleges that former president Jacob Zuma received monthly payments of R1m from controversial tender mogul Roy Moodley, without declaring it to SARS.
SARS, under then commissioner Tom Moyane, filed papers in the Western Cape High Court against Pauw, saying that he published confidential tax information in the book, which was in contravention of the Tax Administration Act.