SARS moves against Pauw and Sunday Times

SARS is planning legal action against journalist and author Jacques Pauw and the Sunday Times with regard to ‘the unlawful disclosure of confidential taxpayer information’. A TimesLIVE report says SARS was responding to a report published in the Sunday Times of an extract from Pauw’s new book‚ The President’s Keepers – Those keeping Zuma in power and out of prison. SARS said the publication of confidential taxpayer information was in contravention of the Tax Administration Act. ‘As a result‚ SARS is duty-bound to address the violation of the (Act) by Mr Jacques Pauw and the unsubstantiated allegation that Commissioner Tom Moyane is aiding President (Jacob) Zuma to avoid his tax obligations.’ SARS said the premise of the article hinged on the ‘predictable’ narrative that the organisation could not fulfil its mandate since the appointment of Moyane because he was allegedly using his position to protect Zuma. It dismissed the ‘irresponsible and mischievous’ tone of the report which seeks to cast aspersions on the character of Commissioner Moyane’. ‘The report perpetuates the unfounded narrative that he is involved in efforts to quash President Zuma’s tax liability. This narrative is untruthful‚ disingenuous and outrightly irresponsible,’ SARS said. It also dismissed ‘with contempt’ the allegation that officials who were allegedly administering Zuma’s tax affairs were purged from the organisation. Sunday Times editor Bongani Siqoko said the newspaper stood by its report.