“The negative effect of these matters on our economy, personal pressure on the individuals affected as well as the heads of institutions, however disturbing, can not be cause for the President to intervene unconstitutionally”. The rand has tumbled 5 percent since Tuesday when news of the investigation broke, with analysts saying Zuma had offered only qualified support to Gordhan.
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Ngqulunga, however, said Zuma wishes to express his full support and confidence in Gordhan and emphasizes the fact that the minister has not been found guilty of any wrongdoing.
“The negative effect of these matters on our economy, personal pressure on the individuals affected as well as the heads of institutions, however disturbing, can not be cause for the President to intervene unconstitutionally”.
Speculation has been rife that Gordhan may be charged in connection with an alleged rogue spy unit that was set up at the tax collection agency when he headed it up between 1999 and 2009.
South Africa’s rand headed for the biggest weekly drop since December against the dollar as a statement of support by President Jacob Zuma failed to ease investor concern that Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan may be replaced.
Bongani Xezwi, Right2Know organiser, said summoning Gordhan to the Hawks office was part of an agenda.
In a statement issued by National Treasury, Gordhan said he had been advised by his lawyers that allegations made against him by the Hawks in a letter sent to him on Monday were “wholly unfounded on any version of events”.
“It was an ambiguous vote of confidence in Pravin Gordhan which would suggest that the agencies supposedly investigating in Pravin Gordhan will be given relatively free rein to continue these investigations”, said Daniel Silke, a director at Political Futures Consultancy.
Right2Know and Section 21, picketed outside the Hawks head office in Pretoria on Thursday to register their opposition to the police unit’s investigation of Gordhan.
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Hawks spokesman Hangwani Mulaudzi declined to comment.
