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Cape Chamber of Commerce deplores timing of Gordhan charges

Cape Town - The Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Wednesday said it had confidence that the courts would resolve the charges against Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan quickly.

The chamber’s president, Janine Myburgh, deplored the timing of the decision to prosecute Gordhan, which the NPA announced on Tuesday.

"The decision and the timing of the decision has already cost South Africa billions of rands and affects us all negatively," she said in a statement.

"Mr Gordhan had served South Africa well and it is difficult to understand why he is being prosecuted at this stage for what seems to be a small offence when compared to the many billions of rands lost to corruption and wasteful spending, which have been identified by the Auditor General."

Myburgh said the chamber was mindful of the National Prosecuting Authority’s record in deciding which cases to prosecute.

"The decision not to prosecute President Zuma on more than 700 counts of corruption, for instance, was described by the courts as irrational."

She also referred to the High Court in Pretoria’s ruling on September 15 that acting National Director of Public Prosecutions Nomgcobo Jiba and senior NPA official Lawrence Mrwebi be struck off the roll of advocates, for their handling of high profile cases.

The National Foundations Dialogue Initiative urged South Africans to trust in the judicial process, knowing that only constitutionally-based principles should underpin the actions of the State.

"Having said that, it is particularly important that Minister Gordhan be treated in a fair and professional manner and that he does not find himself prematurely on trial in the court of public opinion which seeks assassination of a person’s character based on innuendo leaks and anonymous sources," it said in a statement.

Gordhan, the economy and average South Africans would suffer if careful attention was not paid to matters of governance.

"Due care, along with diligence, is required by our prosecuting institutions as it cannot be dismissed that Minister Gordhan is a person of both local and international repute."

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