Gordhan hits back at protector

THE gloves are off between Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan and Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane over the investigation into the early retirement of former Sars deputy commissioner Ivan Pillay.

Yesterday, Gordhan, through lawyers, took a swipe at Mkhwebane saying any suggestion that he had not responded to her enquiries or his responses were not forthcoming were “simply deceptive, false and incorrect”.

He made these statements after the office of Mkhwebane tweeted last week that she wrote to Gordhan four times between February and July requesting a response to allegations levelled against him.

Mkhwebane issued a subpoena on October 2 for Gordhan to answer questions for approving Pillay’s early retirement after a complaint was lodged in December 2016, after a criminal charge was withdrawn by the National Prosecuting Authority.

Gordhan said the investigation by Mkhwebane “was the same issue regarding which I was charged criminally in 2016”.

“I believe that the fight back is aimed at countering the work done this year by public servants and political office bearers to ‘recapture’ the state and deliver on its constitutional mandate,” Gordhan said.

Gordhan is due to appear before Mkhwebane on November 14, a day before he testifies before the Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture