Justice Minister Penuell Maduna yesterday urged anyone who might be in possession of apartheid-era "spy" files, such as those surrendered by Mo Shaik during the Hefer Commission of Inquiry hearings, to hand them in to the authorities.

Replying to questions during a media briefing at Parliament, Maduna said he was "startled" when Shaik revealed he had a database of 888 files, because the ANC's leadership had said all files it had on "these matters" had been given to the state.

"I'm only hoping that nobody has kept any files, because Mo himself has since surrendered those... and I'm only hoping that nobody is actually holding similar files," he said.

"You see, you can't have any legitimate reason to hold them, other that you may one day need, occasionally, just to blackmail people if you know that they were spies... indeed to abuse people, and abuse their families as well.

"To say anybody has ever been an apartheid spy is the worst you can say about them. Because, you see, spies led to the death and maiming of people (during apartheid).

"And families, where some of us come from, even now, want to know what happened to their beloved ones. And if you says anybody who lived in their street, their community, and worked with some of their children who disappeared, was a spy, you create real problems," Maduna said.

"I hope to God, that you will be able to produce proof and say 'this is my proof'. If you can't, don't do this.

"And if you have these files, for whatever reason... surrender them to the state.

"You cause and perpetuate tension, not only in the families, but in the communities themselves, once you cast doubt on the part of someone, especially when you know, indeed that person has never been a spy, and yet indeed you say that person was a spy.

"It's the worst thing you can do or say about anybody.

"I only hope that nobody is sitting on any files of that nature; after all they're the property of the state, and when we find them in wrong hands, I hope that the appropriate organs of the state will act and ensure that you get appropriately punished for keeping state property in your hands," Maduna said. – Sapa.