Gordhan outlines why Moyane should be fired
PUBLIC Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan has filed a 69-page affidavit‚ outlining the Presidency’s case for the dismissal of suspended SARS commissioner Tom Moyane, while President Cyril Ramaphosa has elected to remain silent.
The misconduct inquiry against Moyane is intended to determine if Ramaphosa had a basis to lose confidence in him.
Moyane’s lawyers are already expressing their unhappiness over Gordhan’s evidence‚ which they say was provided by “someone who is totally irrelevant to this process” and has a “well-documented history of conflict with Mr Moyane”.
“It’s shocking that the affidavit came from Pravin Gordhan and not the president‚ Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene or anyone at SARS‚” Moyane’s lawyer‚ Eric Mabuza‚ said.
“Minister Gordhan had nothing to do with Mr Moyane at the time of his suspension.”
Gordhan, however, maintains that as the former minister of finance, he has personal knowledge of the facts in relation to the charges against Moyane.
“The documents and relevant correspondence were within my custody during that time,” he said.
In the affidavit he filed yesterday, Gordhan details the four misconduct charges against the tax boss – which largely relate to his handling of the corruption allegations against his former second-in-command, Jonas Makwakwa, and interference in the SARS “Rogue Unit” investigation.