Author and investigative journalist Jacques Pauw says he heard that a police officer tried to secure a warrant for his arrest in Pietermaritzburg on Monday.

However, he says a magistrate did not authorise it.

The author of the bestselling The President's Keepers was speaking at the 10th Global Investigative Journalism Conference being held at Wits University in Johannesburg on Friday.

He said he was not sure whether police would try again with another magistrate.

Pauw said the warrant related to five charges, including fraud and crimen injuria.

'Classified information'

The Hawks confirmed earlier in the month that they are investigating the leak of classified information that ended up being published in Pauw's book.

"The Hawks are investigating the possible leakage of classified information as depicted by the National Strategic Intelligence Act," spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi told News24 at the time.

He confirmed that the case had been opened by the State Security Agency (SSA) and the Hawks were now tasked with investigating the source of the leak.

"There is no case against Jacques Pauw," Mulaudzi said on November 9.