Pretoria – President Jacob Zuma has expressed his full support and confidence in Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, and has emphasised the fact that the Minister has not been found guilty of any wrongdoing.
This comes after concerns were expressed by individuals and organisations in society about the reported investigation by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) involving the Minister as well as other former South African Revenue Services (SARS) officials.
“The Presidency wishes to also emphasise that President Zuma does not have powers to stop any investigations into any individual/s. Our constitutional democracy, the strength of our State institutions and the effectiveness of our courts in upholding and protecting rights is our guarantee of justice and fairness,” said the Presidency in a statement.
It said the negative effect of these matters on the country’s economy, personal pressure on the individuals affected as well as the heads of institutions, however disturbing, cannot be cause for the President to intervene unconstitutionally.
The Presidency added that the broader speculation linking these investigations to government and state-owned institutions are equally unhelpful and they are also false and misleading.
