Gordhan dares Hawks: Come arrest me now
‘BUT WHAT HAVE I DONE WRONG?’
AN EMBOLDENED Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan has invited the Hawks to arrest him any time they please.
In conversation with political analyst Justice Malala yesterday at the Open Book Festival‚ Gordhan said: “They can arrest me now if they want to … but what have I done wrong? All the questions have been asked‚ all the questions have been answered.”
In all his correspondence with the Hawks, he had said he was willing to provide any further information they required.
“I don’t have to be dragged through the cordon of press people or whatever it is just to show the world that ‘these Hawks have got this chap here’,” Gordhan said.
“I am not above the law; nobody is above the law‚” he added.
The finance minister’s troubles with the Hawks started earlier this year when he was sent a list of questions relating to their investigation of an alleged rogue South African Revenue Service unit.
Last month the Hawks asked Gordhan to present himself for a warning statement at their offices in Pretoria.
He declined after getting legal advice. Gordhan issued a statement at the time, saying he was advised by his legal team that he was under no legal obligation to present himself to the Hawks.
The Hawks have been accused of acting on behalf of political forces seeking to control the Treasury and the standoff has shaken investors.
On his friction with stateowned enterprises such as Eskom, Denel and South African Airways, Gordhan said he was playing by the rules.
“If you follow the rules of the game, there is no need for any friction … part of our job is to look after your money. That’s the job we are going to do.
“Now if somebody becomes uncomfortable with us doing our job in terms of the letter of the law, then it’s not our problem,” Gordhan said.