Pravin: Hawks must fly
IMMINENT ARREST AND HARASSMENT ‘DISTRESSING’ FOR HIM AND FAMILY
Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan has stood his ground against the Hawks by declining to bow to their demand that he presents himself at their office today at 2pm.
In a show of solidarity with the beleaguered former Sars officials and Gordhan, Francois Antonie of the Helen Suzman Foundation, Advocate George Bizos and retired Constitutional Court judge Johann Kriegler are expected to make an appearance outside the Hawks offices today and have called on civil society to support them.
This is after Gordhan’s attorneys received a letter from the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also knowns as the Hawks, requesting that he makes himself available so a warning statement is obtained from him.
“I have since taken legal counsel … I am advised that I am under no legal obligation to present myself to the Hawks as directed in their letter,” Gordhan said.
“It is indeed true that no one is above the law. But no one should be subjected to the manipulation of the law and agencies for ulterior motives,” he charges.
“I cannot believe that I am being investigated and could possibly be charged for something I am completely innocent of. I have answered the questions submitted by the Hawks, and have not heard from them.
“I was not aware of any impending charges or further investigations until the reports in the past weekend.”
Gordhan goes on to describe that media reports about his “arrest”, “imminent or not” “have been extremely distressing” for himself and his family.
Through his 45 years of activism, he further stated that he “worked for the advancement of the ANC, the constitution and our democratic government”.
“I would never have thought that individuals within the very agencies of this government would now conspire to intimidate and harass me and my family.”
Gordhan, in detailing his need not to go, stipulates that he has decided not to make himself available under the following considerations:
“I was advised in no uncertain terms by the head of the Hawks, General [Berning] Ntlemeza, in his letter of May 20, 2016, in response to my attorney’s enquiry, that I am not a suspect in the Hawks investigation.
“I have provided a comprehensive account of matters which the Hawks had raised in their 27 questions on May 18 2016,” he said.
“I am advised by my legal team that the assertions of law made by the Hawks in their letter of August 21, 2016 are wholly unfounded on any version of the facts.
“There are two matters raised by the Hawks and these are contravention of … the Intelligence Act … as well as … the Public Finance Management Act.”
In a letter to the Hawks by Gordhan’s attorneys, these alleged contraventions are dealt with in detail.
“Suffice to say they advise that the alleged charges are wholly unfounded. I therefore do not intend to present myself for a warning statement for many considerations, both legal and given my other commitments.
“I remain committed to assist the Hawks in any bona fide investigation. I have a job to do in a difficult economic environment and serve South Africa as best I can. Let me do my job.”
Gordhan stated he will approach the Hawks leadership and the National Prosecuting Authority for “further information and clarity”.
“I worked together with more than 10 000 staff for a decade to transform Sars into a world-class revenue and customs administration.
“We built the revenue service into an efficient and effective institution that provided increasing fiscal resources to enable government to provide social grants.
“Sars and the specialist investigative units therein operated within the law during my time as the commissioner.
“The malicious rumours and accusations about ‘espionage’ activities are false and manufactured for other motives,” Gordhan said.
“There have also been reports of businesspeople claiming inside knowledge of, or influence over, state institutions.
“If such reports are true, that alleged conduct will undermine the integrity and honesty within Treasury or other key institutions.
“It is particularly painful to me and I’m sure to many earnest democrats, to witness this unrestrained attack on honest and hard-working people and the institutions meant to strengthen our democracy.”
I have a job to do in a difficult economic environment and serve South Africa as best I can. Let me do my job. Pravin Gordhan Finance minister