Gordhan, Jonas meet KPMG

Former finance minister Pravin Gordhan and his former deputy Mcebisi Jonas yesterday had a face-to-face meeting with KPMG International chairperson John Veihmeyer in what can only be described as a butt-licking exercise by the disgraced international auditing firm.

In a statement last night, Gordhan said that “while we have agreed to meet KPMG, we reserve our legal rights”.

Newly-appointed SA CEO of KPMG, Nhlamu Dlomu, also attended the meeting. The meeting was held at the request of Veihmeyer.

According to the statement, Gordhan and Jonas “shared our strong feelings and disapproval of the manner in which KPMG SA has been involved in the validation of state capture and corruption in respect of both the SA Revenue Service (Sars) and companies of the Gupta family.

“KPMG has a moral duty to account for their conduct to the South African public and they have to be frank and transparent in their disclosures if they wish to restore their own reputation”.

Gordhan further said they still insist on full and proper disclosure of the role of various parties in the state capture project and the manner in which KPMG staff seem to have colluded in these processes.

“Clearly, given the inadequacy of their earlier statement on Friday last week, further steps need to be taken by KPMG to be more open and frank with South Africans. This will determine whether KPMG can earn the respect and confidence of both corporates and the audit profession on the one hand, and the South African public on the other.”

The firm has been in the firing line after it withdrew its findings about a Sars report into a socalled rogue unit. The about-turn led to the SA leadership of KPMG all abandoning ship. Several companies have cut ties with KPMG in the wake of the scandal.