Zuma wants out of Gordhan-Gupta fray

President Jacob Zuma.

President Jacob Zuma.

Published Mar 28, 2017

Share

Johannesburg - South African President Jacob Zuma asked

the High Court in Pretoria to be removed as an interested party in a case

involving Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and companies controlled by the

Guptas, who are friends with the president.

Standard Bank Group in December made a court application

to prevent Zuma and any of his ministers from intervening in the lender’s

decision to close accounts of companies associated with the Guptas, who are

also in business with one of Zuma’s sons.

Gordhan in October approached the court for a ruling that

he doesn’t have the authority to interfere with whom banks choose as clients.

Gordhan took the steps after the Guptas repeatedly pressured him to get the

country’s largest lenders to overturn their decision.

Zuma wants the court to determine whether Standard Bank

“can seek relief against parties who are not parties to the proceedings,”

according to a copy of Zuma’s request, called a practice note of the interested

party.

The papers have been filed, according to the state

attorney. Zuma wants the matter struck off the court’s roll and that Standard

Bank be held liable for the costs, according to the court papers.

Read also:  Standard Bank intervenes in Gordhan-Gupta fray

The application comes as Zuma ordered Gordhan to return

home from an international roadshow to market South Africa, heightening concern

that he’s preparing to change his cabinet.

The court case involving Gordhan and the Guptas is

scheduled to start Tuesday.

BLOOMBERG

Related Topics: