Johannesburg - South Africa’s top prosecutor denied involvement in a political plot to unseat Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and said reports that his arrest is imminent for authorising setting up a “rogue” investigative unit at the national tax agency were “unwarranted and speculative”.
“The matter is not on my desk,” Shaun Abrahams, the national director of the National Prosecuting Authority, told reporters in Pretoria on Monday. “It will only make its way to me after the investigation has been concluded and a recommendation thereon made to me. I implore you to respect the process.”
South Africa’s rand slumped to a two-month low on May 19, days after the Sunday Times newspaper reported that Gordhan, 67, may face dismissal and arrest on espionage charges for setting up the South African Revenue Service’s National Research Group to spy on politicians including President Jacob Zuma. Gordhan denied any wrongdoing and said he was being harassed by people intent on manipulating the justice system for political gain.
“There is no evidence remotely that has been brought to my attention nor to the attention of the National Prosecuting Authority that the investigation of the SARS rogue unit is politically motivated,” Abrahams said.
“The NPA is not involved in, nor is it driving, any prosecution in this matter. The NPA is not conspiring with anyone to intimidate or harass any persons. The NPA is not filthy or corrupt as some politicians and others would want you to believe.”
Zuma was forced to reinstate Gordhan as finance minister when the rand and bonds plunged following his decision in December to replace Nhlanhla Nene in the post with a little-known lawmaker, raising questions about the government’s commitment to fiscal targets. Gordhan, who had previously served as finance minister from 2009 to 2014, has pledged to curb government spending and rein in corruption as South Africa struggles to avoid having its credit rating downgraded to junk.
The rand has declined 26% against the dollar since the start of last year, the most of 16 major currencies monitored by Bloomberg. It traded at R15.63/$ at 14:06 in Johannesburg.