South Africa’s NPA quashes reports of Gordhan’s imminent arrest

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South Africa’s NPA quashes reports of Gordhan’s imminent arrest

9:45 CAT | 28 Aug 2016

The Times (File photo) / Pravin Gordhan.

The National Prosecution Authority (NPA) has denied media reports that Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan could soon be charged for corruption.

City Press on Sunday said the NPA was on the verge of charging the minister in a case dating back to the time headed the South African Revenue Service (SARS). The case is linked to a covert investigative unit set up within the tax agency between 1999 and 2009, when Gordhan was commissioner, to allegedly spy on politicians, including President Jacob Zuma.

“There is no decision whatsoever to prosecute anyone,” NPA spokesman Luvuyo Mfaku said on Sunday.

Mfaku said the prosecution had on Friday been handed a docket by the police.

“We have received a docket relating to the so-called SARS rogue unit,” and prosecutors were sifting through the paper Mfaku said . “We have not identified any individuals, we have to look at the docket and review the strength of the evidence,” he said. “If there is sufficient evidence, a decision will be made.”

Last week the Hawks summoned Gordhan and other former SARS officials to present themselves for questioning over the unit.

But Gordhan, a widely respected technocrat, refused to go, saying had been legally advised he was “under no obligation” to present himself to the police.

Zuma on Thursday said he had no power to stop any investigations, but expressed his “full support and confidence” in Gordhan, stressing that the finance minister “has not been found guilty of any wrongdoing.”

There are concerns that charging Gordhan could wreak havoc in the financial markets and shatter investor confidence, which could see the nation’s credit ratings downgraded to junk status.

The rand tumbled ast week on news that the minister was being investigated.

Source: AFP