Gupta, Gordhan spat gets nasty
ACCUSED OF RAIDING STATE PURSE FOR PERSONAL USE
‘He used state resources to ensure the banks did not come under scrutiny.’
Gupta-owned company Sahara Computers has accused Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan of misusing public funds to fight his personal political battles in court.
Counsel for Sahara, Rafik Bhana, argued Gordhan was using his application against the Guptas’ Oakbay group of companies as a platform to get into the public arena what he regarded as the firm’s “dirty linen”.
Bhana said Gordhan was an astute politician, who had consciously opened a can of worms about a Financial Intelligence Centre report regarding 72 alleged “suspicious” Oakbay transactions.
The court has ruled that reference to the report be struck off the record.
The legal eagle said his client believed the minister had a personal interest in the matter and went public to seek disclosure of documents, in the process abusing the court process.
“He used his office and state resources to continue his warfare against the Guptas and to ensure the banks did not come under scrutiny,” Bhana said.
Sahara contended Gordhan was using the application to preempt a proposed probe into the conduct of the banks.
Gordhan seeks a declaratory order from the court that he is not legally obliged to interfere in the Guptas’ troubles with South African banks.
Sahara asked the court to dismiss Gordhan’s application and order him to personally pay the legal costs because of his “unreasonable conduct”.
Counsel for Standard Bank Vincent Maleka said Oakbay had waged a public campaign against the banks. He accused the firm of seeking to illegally involve politicians in its fight with the banks, which was why the court had to order the president and Cabinet not to interfere.
Cedric Puckrin, for Oakbay, argued Gordhan was “bothering” the court with an “idle, abstract and moot point”.
The Reserve Bank had said it was necessary for stability in the markets for the court to give clarity on the powers of the minister to interfere with banks and their clients.
The North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria reserved judgment. –