Gordhan irked by union leader’s name-dropping

Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan is livid that his name was used by SA Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) leader Sihle Nguse, who reportedly said he would approach Gordhan to fire then Transnet group CEO Portia Derby and Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) CEO Pepi Silinga.

Nguse was speaking on alleged plans to privatise Transnet, and accused Silinga and Derby of failing in their duties.

He told Sowetan: “Tomorrow, Pravin will know about this. We are going to tell PG [Gordhan]. Pepi, we are meeting PG tomorrow and that is the first item we will start with. We will tell PG to fire Pepi and Portia and the rest of you can resign on your own.”

But Gordhan, pictured, did not appreciate being dragged into the dispute. “No individual or organisation has a right to use the minister’s name for their nefarious agendas,” the department of public enterprises said in a statement.

Gordhan emphasised that there was no truth to the claims that “a union could have power to sway him to get involved in matters that are the remit of the board of Transnet”.

“Minister Gordhan does not take instructions from unions,” the department said.

Meanwhile, the department confirmed Gordhan met Satawu and the United National Transport Union on 20 September, as part of ongoing engagements on various matters in the freight and logistics sector. It did not say if he discussed the privatisation of Transnet with the unions.

Gordhan said, however, there were ongoing investigations into procurement processes at TNPA.

“The investigation... must proceed without fear or favour so there is no doubt in the public’s mind about government’s resolve and commitment to deal with corruption= and push back against the forces of greed,” he said.

He reiterated that neither he nor the department get involved in procurement processes as that is a responsibility of the board.

Minister Pravin Gordhan does not take instructions from unions.

Department of public enterprises