We are all, including Gordhan, equal before the law

IN RECENT days, the country’s media houses have focused extensively on the Pravin Gordhan versus the Hawks saga.

This matter has been brewing for months following years of media exposure of the “rogue” unit in Sars under the former commissioner Gordhan, now minister of finance.

I am gravely concerned about the manner in which Gordhan and now lately former finance minister Trevor Manuel have begun to attack the Hawks and foment the narrative that this entire saga is a plot to kill off Gordhan as min- ister of finance as he opposes President Zuma.

There might be an element of truth, but it’s about the principles of the matter.

My reading of South Africa’s constitution is that we are all equal before the law, president and peasant.

If you you have nothing to hide, Gordhan, why do everything in your power to avoid this matter?

And when asked to answer questions relating to this matter, you cry foul.

When you are asked to account for your alleged actions, which you say were legal, co-operate with the Hawks.

If they charge you, go and defend your good name in court.

And if you win, sue the hell out of the state and donate the money to charity.

If former and current presidents can be hauled before the courts, what gives you the right to say: Let me do my job, I will not co-operate?

The knife cuts both ways. We cannot expect citizens to respect the law if politicians flout it.

The net result of this arrogance is what happened to the ANC on August 3: it lost the confidence of the very people it claimed to represent.

We must not allow financial houses to manipulate the markets for self-interest.

This notion that Gordhan is untouchable sets a dangerous precedent in our country and we must oppose it. The rand is important to us, but so too is the value of our constitution.

Gordhan must not act like he is the alpha and omega of the South African economy.

He said in February 2016: “If I am gone in six months’ time, it means I don’t have political support; if I am still here in my post, it means I have political support.”

Now if this is not holding the gun to the head of the ANC, I don’t know what is. Gordon must man up, face the questions and defend his good name.

In recent days, we have heard Manuel saying Zuma must deal with this mess.

Is he suggesting the investigation into the work of the rogue must be scrapped?

Is this not political interference, Manuel, the very allegation the media and other people have accused Zuma of ? What is good for the goose must be good for the gander.

Why must the rules apply to some and not others? Why is Gordhan’s case different from any other in terms of the rules that we’re required to play by.

This kind of hypocrisy by some must not be allowed to creep into our institutions.

We believe our courts are strong to withstand any strongarm tactics by whoever wants to falsely accuse Gordhan of wrongdoing.

The Constitutional Court has shown ours is a constitutional state at all levels of society. Simon Pele Athlone, Cape Town