Treasury tells Guptas to lay off Gordhan

THE TREASURY has told the Gupta family to stop its media campaign against Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, following a week of sustained responses in the media to his affidavit detailing their transactions totalling R6.8 billion.

This week the Guptas responded through media statements that the Treasury claims contained contradictions.

It was a turbulent week for the controversial family’s Oakbay Investments: Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan’s revelations about transactions flagged as suspicious by the Financial Intelligence Centre were followed by the resignation of company chief executive Nazeem Howa.

The company’s lawyers were expected to file their responding affidavit to Gordhan’s application for a declaratory order that he was not legally obliged to intervene in their disputes with the major banks.

Gordhan’s court battle with Oakbay over his application comes ahead of a showdown in court with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

These have also caused ruptures within the ANC, with the ANC in North West urging him yesterday “not to behave in a manner that casts aspersion on law enforcement agencies and other state organs”.

The ANC in North West, under the leadership of provincial chairman and Premier Supra Mahumapelo, has been critical of Gordhan and are known to be staunch supporters of President Zuma.

“Comrade Gordhan understands that he remains innocent until and unless proven otherwise, and should co-operate with law enforcement agencies,” the party said yesterday after its extended provincial executive committee.

According to provincial secretary Dakota Legoete, none of the province’s structures will participate in activities to support Gordhan when he appears in court on November 2.

“We will only do so if there is a decision of the collective of the NEC (national executive committee) in this regard.”