Is mining magnate Brett Kebble the victim of an aggressive campaign of malice and slander by a prosecuting authority out of control? Or is he the subject of an ordinary investigation by a state institution doing its job?

The letters below offer little new information about the cases in which Kebble is involved, but they illustrate some of the frustration that is inevitable for a businessman in a corner.

They are zany and even occasionally verge on the threatening, implying, for example, that Justice Minister Penuell Maduna and the national director of public prosecutions, Bulelani Ngcuka, have committed crimes.

Kebble is careful to make his allegations in the voice of others, citing for example former judge Willem Heath and his avowed enemy, Warren Goldblatt, MD of controversial private eye company, Associated Intelligence Networks (AIN).

What does one make of an allegation that the criminal justice system is being subverted? Coming from an independent observer, it would be a serious allegation. But coming from someone being investigated by that system, it is a lot more difficult to know who is trying to subvert whom.

Setting out of his stall, Kebble notes that he has taken a keen interest in the prosecutorial system ever since his father Roger was arrested. And, Kebble says, he is "appalled at the picture which has emerged".

He argues that the attempts at prosecuting him are malicious. But he is not above malice himself, slipping into one letter allegations that Maduna may have got a car at a discount.

Kebble also mentions, apparently in passing, that Maduna "may be interested to know" that Goldblatt claims he (Maduna) and Ngcuka are in an "unassailable position" because they are backed by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

He goes on to list a host of other gossipy items that he claims Goldblatt believes or says.

On the face of it, this is an odd thing to do. Firstly, the allegations are all hearsay and, importantly, the hearsay of an avowed enemy in Goldblatt. But more fundamentally, is it really a bad thing for a prosecuting authority to have the support of an organisation such as the CIA?

The answer perhaps lies with the list of others to whom Kebble sent his letter: Intelligence Minister Lindiwe Sisulu, President Thabo Mbeki, Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula and National Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi. CIA "backing" may be desirable for a prosecuting authority but it may be less desirable for Sisulu.

The letters lay a trail of supposition and allegation, touching on subjects in a supposedly accidental way that goes far beyond the ambit of the charges laid against Kebble or his father.

Bizarrely, at one point, allegations of corruption against Deputy President Jacob Zuma are mentioned.

At one stage, Kebble tells Maduna: "It may interest you to know that Goldblatt laughingly informs people that the letter which forms the basis of the alleged case against Zuma had been doctored so as to impute guilt and forever cast a shadow over his career."

In denying that he made these remarks, Goldblatt hinted at what he believes may be Kebble's real motive. "There are not even words for it, it is crazy. These baseless allegations are designed to urge the authorities to take action against AIN and for Kebble to ingratiate himself with those authorities that have been investigating him," Goldblatt said in an interview yesterday.

It seems hard to believe that the letters were not meant to be read at some stage by a wider audience than the long list of people copied. They should be treated with caution.

With acknowledgements to Tim Cohen, Rob Rose and the Business Day.