Pravin faces arrest
Two SARS officials have been lined up as state witnesses
There are moves towards charging ex-finance minister Pravin Gordhan over the alleged bugging of the National Prosecuting Authority offices in 2007, a project dubbed “Sunday Evenings”.
Sowetan also understands that both former finance minister Trevor Manuel and his deputy Jabu Moleketi have been subpoenaed on the matter.
Manuel was out of the country, but confirmed via SMS that he had been subpoenaed, while Moleketi could not be reached for comment.
It is also understood from senior sources that the investigation is at an advanced stage, with two South African Revenue Service (SARS) officials having turned state witnesses.
The developments emerged at a time when there was an apparent renewed attack on Gordhan, who has been outspoken against the controversial Gupta family and state capture.
Gordhan has also made his views about President Jacob Zuma clear, and said he would vote with his conscience in the motion of no confidence against him on August 8, for which he may face ANC disciplinary action.
In the past week, Zuma’s sons Duduzane and Edward have launched personal attacks on Gordhan, both publicly, with the former blaming Gordhan for his ba nking woes and the latter calling him a “liar”.
Gordhan has since declined to comment on potential charges linked to “Project Sunday Evenings”. But last year, on the eve of his budget speech, he said he had no knowledge of the project.
“Project Sunday Evenings” emerged strongly in the KPMG report commissioned by SARS into an alleged rogue unit at the tax agency, involving the bugging of the NPA offices, conducted by two SARS officials who were part of its high-risk investigation unit.
The pair, Helgard Lombaard and Johan de Waal, are understood to be state witnesses. Lombaard is understood to still be on SARS payroll although he has been on suspension for the last three years.
Gordhan was pursued over the unit but was only charged for an alleged administrative irregularity over the pension and hiring of former deputy commissioner Ivan Pillay.
The charges were, however, withdrawn by NPA boss Shaun Abrahams.
This was before Zuma fired Gordhan using a fake intelligence report, but he eventually told ANC officials that his relationship with Gordhan had broken down irretrievably.
However, Hawks spokesman Hangwani Mulaudzi yesterday denied that there were new developments in the investigation against Gordhan.
‘ ‘ Trevor Manuel confirmed that he had been subpoenaed