Publishers ordered to withdraw explosive new Zuma book

Écrit par Antoine Lawson | 03 Novembre 2017

Cape Town, South Africa, November 3 (Infosplusgabon) - The State Security Agency (SSA) on Friday ordered the publishers of an explosive new book on President Jacob Zuma to withdraw it immediately.

Leading investigative journalist Jacques Pauw’s “The President’s Keepers” threatened to blow the lid off the Zuma administration which is reeling following a wave of high-profile scandals.

The book sold 20,000 copies following its launch earlier this week and NB Publishers have ordered a re-run. It identifies key players in the local tobacco trade, police officials and state security agency spy bosses who are accused of working together to ensure that Zuma is not jailed for numerous alleged graft cases.

It also claims that Zuma was employed by a private company, earning a salary of about US$100,000 after he was elected President in 2009.

The SSA said the author and the publisher are in violation of the Intelligence Services Act without elaborating.

The publishers confirmed that they had received a cease and desist letter from the SSA, demanding that they withdraw the book from stores, as well as retract certain parts of the book.

It said the SSA is threatening to go to court to get an "interdict preventing further distribution, further printing, publishing or promotion of the book" should they refuse to withdraw it from book shops, and "institute criminal charges ".

NB Publishers said it stands by Pauw and the book and will defend any legal action.

Zuma addressed the book in Parliament on Wednesday. “I did not receive payments from private individuals or companies during my tenure as president‚ other than those which (have) been disclosed or reported to the necessary authorities.”

He also dismissed the groundswell of public resentment towards him, saying “there are many books and articles (about him) on a daily basis‚ as well as people talking on TV and radio. My speculation is that these allegations are made because I lead the biggest party in the country which is in government‚ and they are trying to find ways to undermine the President."

FIN/INFOSPLUSGABON/UHJ/GABON 2017

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