African National Congress (ANC) chief whip Jackson Mthembu gave a word of support to Pravin Gordhan on Thursday‚ calling for an end to the recent lies peddled about the finance minister suggesting that he had been involved in criminal activity.
Following reports of plans to arrest Gordhan over his alleged involvement in an alleged “rogue unit” at the South African Revenue Service (Sars)‚ Gordhan this week released a statement in which he maintained his innocence‚ saying the storm surrounding him was distressing to his family. He also appealed to South Africans to “protect” the National Treasury.
On Wednesday the South African Communist Party admonished the Hawks‚ claiming that the elite crime-fighting outfit was orchestrating a campaign to “target and isolate” the minister.
Mthembu told reporters during a briefing in Parliament that he was confident of Gordhan’s integrity.
He said any claims that Gordhan was involved in criminal activity of any kind were lies and that those peddling such lies should be found and dealt with as determined by the law.
The Hawks had sent Gordhan questions related to the work of the unit shortly before he was to deliver the 2016 budget in February.
He has repeatedly said the unit was legally established and had ministerial approval from then finance minister Trevor Manuel.
Gordhan was the Sars commissioner when the unit was set up in 2007.
Mthembu took the opportunity to hail the minister’s efforts in maintaining the country’s current sovereign score by ratings agency Moody’s.
“We trust and respect all of our ministers‚ without exception. That goes for minister Gordhan as well. He has steered the Treasury very well. He also travelled around the world to impress upon them the prospects of South Africa. But do not forget that he travels with the president around the world‚” Mthembu said.
- TMG Digital/BDLive
ANC chief whip Mthembu calls for end to lies about Gordhan
African National Congress (ANC) chief whip Jackson Mthembu gave a word of support to Pravin Gordhan on Thursday‚ calling for an end to the recent lies peddled about the finance minister suggesting that he had been involved in criminal activity.
Following reports of plans to arrest Gordhan over his alleged involvement in an alleged “rogue unit” at the South African Revenue Service (Sars)‚ Gordhan this week released a statement in which he maintained his innocence‚ saying the storm surrounding him was distressing to his family. He also appealed to South Africans to “protect” the National Treasury.
On Wednesday the South African Communist Party admonished the Hawks‚ claiming that the elite crime-fighting outfit was orchestrating a campaign to “target and isolate” the minister.
Mthembu told reporters during a briefing in Parliament that he was confident of Gordhan’s integrity.
He said any claims that Gordhan was involved in criminal activity of any kind were lies and that those peddling such lies should be found and dealt with as determined by the law.
The Hawks had sent Gordhan questions related to the work of the unit shortly before he was to deliver the 2016 budget in February.
He has repeatedly said the unit was legally established and had ministerial approval from then finance minister Trevor Manuel.
Gordhan was the Sars commissioner when the unit was set up in 2007.
Mthembu took the opportunity to hail the minister’s efforts in maintaining the country’s current sovereign score by ratings agency Moody’s.
“We trust and respect all of our ministers‚ without exception. That goes for minister Gordhan as well. He has steered the Treasury very well. He also travelled around the world to impress upon them the prospects of South Africa. But do not forget that he travels with the president around the world‚” Mthembu said.
- TMG Digital/BDLive
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