Johannesburg - The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), or Hawks, on Thursday confirmed they were investigating the possible leaking of classified information contained in journalist Jacques Pauw's book.
This revelation comes shortly after reports emerged that a complaint had been laid against Pauw by members of the State Security Agency (SSA) at the Lyttleton police station.
SSA spokesperson Brian Dube told Independent Media the case against Pauw related to his contravening of the Intelligence Services Act.
Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi confirmed this, saying two cases had been referred to the crime fighting unit for investigation.
"The two cases relate to the possible leaking of classified information... and our organised crime unit will be the ones carrying out the investigation," he said.
Mulaudzi went on to deny any charges were laid against Pauw, dismissing it as allegations.
READ MORE: Charges laid against Jacques Pauw
Pauw has been in the spotlight following the release of his explosive book "The President's Keepers – Those keeping Zuma in power and out of prison", which exposes, among others, an alleged plot by Zuma to quash his massive R63 million tax bill, his failure to submit his tax returns during at least the first five years of his presidency, and how Zuma kept receiving a secret monthly pay cheque from a friend despite being paid by the State as president.
The book also revealed how millions of rand were deposited into the accounts of fake spies and how Zuma manipulated state institutions such as the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) as well as the Hawks.
Following its publication, the SSA slapped Pauw and his publisher, NB Publishers, with a cease and desist letter, demanding that the book be with withdrawn and that certain parts be retracted.