ANC slams Hawks’ ‘humiliation’ of Gordhan

THE ANC has broken its silence on the Hawks’ “Hollywood-style humiliation” of Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan over the Sars rogue unit by throwing its weight behind him. It has also lashed out at the “unnatural” manner in which the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (known as the Hawks) handled the issue.

The party cautioned its members from “entering the fray and taking sides” as, it said, that legitimised the narrative that the Hawks’ investigation into the spy unit was a political conspiracy.

The ANC’s support for Gordhan comes after Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa pledged his “total confidence” in the finance minister last week.

Cosatu and the SACP have also come out in defence of Gord- han, with the labour federation condemning statements made by Umkhonto weSizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA) leaders during a media briefing in Joburg on Monday.

The Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Des van Rooyen, who is also the MKMVA’s treasurer, questioned why Gordhan had not presented himself to make a warning statement to the Hawks over the Sars rogue unit, which allegedly spied on President Jacob Zuma and the National Prosecuting Authority.

A warning statement is the last formal procedure before a person is charged with a criminal offence.

Yesterday, ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe reaffirmed the party’s “unreserved confidence” in Gordhan and the work of the National Treasury.

He was briefing the media on the outcome of the ANC national working committee meeting on Monday. All parties to the dispute were to co-operate in the probe, Mantashe said, adding that the government had a responsibility to “safeguard the economy” by dealing with the matter away from the public.

He explained that they were not saying Gordhan must be untouchable but it was “unnatural” for the Hawks to send him 27 questions and then summon him to their headquar- ters to make a warning statement – which Gordhan refused to do – as that had “an element of humiliating the minister”.

Mantashe said the “Hollywood style” handling of the matter did not help society or the economy; “it dents the economy”. He then took a swipe at Van Rooyen, the short-lived finance minister replaced by Gordhan, saying he was a “terrible choice” for the MKMVA to speak on the matter.