The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber yesterday there wits full support behind Pravin Gordhan, saying the Hawks investigation was being orchestrated to cause reputational damage to the embattled finance minister.
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“Our position remains unchanged, all parties to the dispute are encouraged to cooperate in the investigation”.
The currency has slumped 6,2% since 23 August, when a news website reported that the Hawks police unit had summoned Gordhan in connection with an investigation into alleged irregularities at the tax-collection authority, which he headed from 1998 to 2009.
Analysts said that Zuma’s team and the Treasury under Gordhan have disagreed about government spending, including at loss-making state companies like South African Airways.
Both Cosatu and ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe on Tuesday condemned statements by Umkhonto weSizwe Military Veterans Association’s (MKMVA) Kebby Maphatsoe and Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister David van Rooyen against Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan.
The saga gained momentum last week when the Hawks made it clear that Gordhan was firmly in the unit’s sights.
“They called it the nuclear bomb option, something so drastic it will only be effected should Zuma try to eject SA Treasury’s respected leader, Gordhan”, said Hogg.
There are concerns that charging Gordhan could wreak havoc in the financial markets and shatter investor confidence, which could see the nation’s credit ratings downgraded to junk status.
The Treasury on Monday accused Eskom executives of blocking the probe of coal contracts between the utility and a company linked to the wealthy Gupta family that is accused of holding undue political sway over Zuma.
Mantashe said the “Hollywood style” handling of the matter did not help society or the economy; “it dents the economy”. “Companies and individuals that are duped into believing they are dealing with bona fide representatives of the ANC must report these matters to the ANC to halt this indiscriminate practice that brings the organisation into disrepute”, he said.
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