The Pravin & Julius showdown
Pravin Gordhan and Julius Malema have clashed in a verbal punch-up that’s landed in court. How did they become such enemies?
IT’S the fight of the year, a bitter ongoing contest between two of the most high-profile players in politics – and barely a day goes by without another punch being thrown. On one side is Julius Malema, the no-holds-barred leader of the EFF. And on the other is Pravin Gordhan, the straight-up-and-down enterprises minister.
No love is lost between the two and each recently laid charges against the other – which means this bout is destined to go a few more rounds in the coming months. We delve into the fight that’s divided supporters.
MALEMA DELIVERS THE FIRST PUNCH
It’s been brewing for most of the year. In July, Malema (37) called Gordhan (69) a control freak who takes decisions without consultation.
This came after Eskom’s proposal to freeze salaries at the woefully cashstrapped state-owned enterprise led to protests and the first round of load-shedding in months.
Malema said it was all the minister’s fault.
“Pravin Gordhan appoints people in positions and boards without following any necessary consultation, even on the cabinet or any robust transparent process,” he said.
“Pravin is a control freak. There’s no way Phakamani [Hadebe, Eskom’s CEO] could have offered the workers 0% without the control freak Pravin knowing.”
THINGS GET PERSONAL
The EFF then moved on to the minister’s daughter, Anisha, claiming she’d been awarded tenders involving more than R80 million by several government departments since her father’s first appointment as finance minister in 2009.
“The EFF will expose all the dealings of Anisha Gordhan and demonstrate that, like Duduzane Zuma, she used her father’s proximity to score state tenders.
Except she didn’t work with the Guptas, she worked with those who benefited from apartheid,” the party said in a statement.
“Pravin Gordhan’s daughter has 10 companies and we’ve asked the ministers which she has contracts with to confirm, and only three of those ministers have confirmed. Today Pravin’s daughter is resigning from those companies as a director.”
The EFF protested outside the Zondo commission in Parktown, Johannesburg, where Gordhan was testifying against state capture.
THE MINISTER PULLS ON HIS BOXING GLOVES
For Gordhan – who usually maintains his cool in the face of criticism – it was too much.
You can attack him all you want but leave his family alone, he said.
The EFF’s allegations were “a blatant lie. My daughter hasn’t done business with the state.”
Gordhan said none of the directorships his daughter held was in her personal capacity, but on behalf of her employer. Anisha was employed by Investec between 2007 and 2017.
“If there are political objectives that anyone wants to achieve, well, come to me and direct your attention to me and I’ll answer for anything I’ll have to answer for.”
AND THEN THE GLOVES COME OFF
When his denials did little to sway the EFF, Gordhan decided to go the legal route. He laid a charge of crimen injuria (criminal defamation) against Malema and his deputy, Floyd Shivambu, because of their comments.
The minister also brought a charge of incitement to commit violence against the pair.
In his equality court complaint Gordhan called for the EFF’s top two to apologise unconditionally for their “attacks” and pay costs, as well as damages of R150 000.
MALEMA FIGHTS HIS CORNER
‘The Economic Freedom Fighters are masters of disruptive politics’
Not the type to turn the other cheek, Malema promptly laid a complaint against the minister at the Brooklyn police station in Pretoria.
“The case is about money laundering, corruption, racketeering, fraud, contravention of [the] Intelligence Act and Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act and perjury,” the EFF said.
Malema claimed Gordhan had a secret bank account.
“Pravin opened an account in Canada and encouraged people to put money in there when they had problems with Sars.
“Instead of media investigating the account they attack the EFF.
“What we did today, because we aren’t playing games, we gave police the account number and the name of the bank in Canada,” he announced outside the police station.
AND GORDHAN HIT BACK AGAIN
The EFF charges were “a set of lies, fake news and fabrications”, the minister said.
“It’s simply their latest attack on the continuing efforts to combat corruption and theft in state-owned companies and other public institutions. Actions by the EFF leadership are the politics of distraction.
“Corruption is the real enemy in South Africa. What the public should be asking those who launch these attacks are: what are you hiding and why are you so desperate to distract the public?”
Meanwhile President Cyril Ramaphosa called on South Africans to support and defend Gordhan.
“Those attacking the minister are deeply embedded in what is going wrong in our country.”