Mpofu hits ‘prophet’ Gordhan
FORMER SA Revenue Service (Sars) commissioner Tom Moyane’s lawyer, advocate Dali Mpofu, pushed hard last night to pull Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan’s testimony apart.
A seemingly determined Mpofu wasted no time in reminding Gordhan about some of the controversial remarks he had previously made relating to matters surrounding Sars and the so-called rogue unit, including how he had handled affairs at the state entity.
Halfway into his cross-examination, Mpofu asked Gordhan: “Did you report Mr Moyane’s involvement in state capture to the police?”
Gordhan replied: “No, I didn’t because I didn’t see it in the purview of state capture."
This was in connection with previous allegations levelled by Gordhan against Moyane on what transpired during his tenure as Sars Commissioner.
Throwing down the gauntlet, Mpofu, who had an hour for his first questioning and complained about being delayed, sarcastically labelled Gordhan a prophet.
He also charged that Gordhan had participated in various criminal acts which perjury on the contradictory remarks he (Gordhan) had previously made in his testimony to the commission.
He also said Gordhan was guilty because after identifying that Moyane was involved in state capture he did not report him.
Gordhan, however, responded: “I deny that I had perjured myself.”
Earlier in the evening, the second round of the much-anticipated cross-examination got off to a slow start and it was painstakingly pointed out to Deputy Chief Justice Zondo that all he and his client sought to do was to deal with the five matters contained in Zondo’s previous ruling, which include a criminal charge laid by Moyane against Gordhan.
Last year, the two men butted heads over substantive testimony that Gordhan presented against Moyane at the commission two years ago.
So heated were the exchanges that Zondo had to play referee after Mpofu warned Gordhan against being arrogant, saying: “I’m not your child or pikinini … I’m not one of those Africans you can undermine.”
This was after Gordhan told Mpofu that he had to listen carefully and not be “hard of hearing” at the answers he provided him during the cross-examination.
Last night, Mpofu quizzed Gordhan around advocate Muzi Skhakhane’s 2014 report on the rogue unit.
He also delved into the scandalous and vexatious remarks Gordhan had apparently made in his court affidavit against Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane.