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Cape Town - The Catholic Bishops have thrown their weight behind Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and the Treasury in their efforts to reform state-owned enterprises in the interests of clean governance.
Bishop Abel Gabuza said in a statement on Thursday on behalf of Catholic bishops that the National Prosecuting Authority's case against Gordhan lends credence to the perception that the African National Congress is at war with itself.
"While we respect the independence of the Hawks and the courts, as well as the need for the court processes to take their course in this matter, we continue to argue that, at some level, the current crisis both represents and escalates the perceived situation of a ruling party at war with itself."
The rand, which fell by the most in more than three months to the dollar on Tuesday after the NPA announced details of the charges against Gordhan, extended declines on Wednesday, slumping as much as 0.9% to its lowest level since September 2, according to Bloomberg.
President Jacob Zuma reaffirmed his support for Gordhan, saying the NPA is to carry out their work with dignity and respect.
“Our society is anchored on the rule of law as well as fair and just judicial processes. In this regard, Minister Gordhan is innocent until and unless proven otherwise by a court of law. This is a fundamental pillar of our constitutional democracy and the rule of law," he stated.
However, speculation is rife that the president is creating a scenario to replace Gordhan with a more pliant National Treasury head.
"While we accept that the president cannot stop the court processes in Mr Gordhan’s case, we appeal to him to take necessary steps to address the systemic issues behind the situation of the government at war with itself," said the bishops.
"We ... reiterate our position that the president and the ruling party have an ethical duty to assure the country that the charges are not a part of a broader ploy to weaken Treasury’s capacity to fight tender corruption and inefficient governance of state-owned enterprises."
The clerics went on to remind political leaders that factional battles within the ruling party, as well as the use of state institutions to fight such factional battles, are not in the interest of the poorest of the poor.
"At the time that our country is struggling economically, the poor who voted our political leaders into power are expecting high levels of ethical leadership. This includes taking visible steps to address the systemic issues behind the situation of the government at war with itself."
On Thursday Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel publicly threw his weight behind Gordhan.
“Let me just say this: his integrity is beyond reproach and we want him to deliver the medium-term budget policy framework,” he said during a parliamentary meeting.
Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom, ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu, ANC veteran Ahmed Kathrada, former cabinet minister Barbara Hogan, former deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe and former national assembly speaker Max Sisulu also conveyed their support for Gordhan.
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