Cape Town - The political future of Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan hangs in the balance after the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirmed he could be charged over the Sars matters.
Gordhan returned to the Treasury last December after the country took a beating on the markets after his boss President Jacob Zuma fired Nhlanhla Nene.
The NPA has not specified the nature of the charges the finance minister could face, but on Sunday said they received the docket from the Hawks on Friday.
This was a day after two former Sars senior officials Ivan Pillay and Johan van Loggerenberg spent four hours at the Hawks offices in Pretoria to receive a warning statement.
Gordhan had stuck to his word he would not show up for the warning statement, which is a precursor to the formal charges being laid.
National Treasury spokesman Phumza Macanda could not be reached for comment on Sunday.
Luvuyo Mfaku, the NPA spokesman, said the docket will be studied by the prosecuting bosses before a decision is taken.
If Gordhan is charged this week, it could affect his job as the finance minister and rattle the markets again.
The business sector has been calling on Zuma to intervene, but he has refused to so.
The NPA’s criminal charges could also have an impact on the country’s economy.
Chief executive of the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Alan Mukoki told SABC’s SAfm’s Weekend Live the matter needed to be resolved urgently to create certainty and stability in the market.
“Any situation will affect the people because they don’t know. Does it mean the currency will go into a tailspin?” he said.
“Speculation where people don’t know the facts creates a problem. We want a situation where the government communicates better. We are in a situation where South Africa is divided,” said Mukoki.
He said the matter needed an urgent resolution.
The business sector wanted certainty. “Absolutely, the matter must be resolved no matter who is right or wrong. “We would like a speedy resolution on the matter,” he said.
The South African Communist Party also entered the fray and questioned the timing of the charges against Gordhan.
SACP leader Blade Nzimande said the imminent arrest of Gordhan looked “very suspect”.
“He was told he is not a suspect, now this? They should handle this in a forthright manner.
“The whole truth shall come out as to what’s going on,” said Nzimande, who is also the Minister of Higher Education.
SACP leaders were on Sunday briefing the media in Johannesburg following its weekend central committee meeting.
The SACP also responded to reports that its leaders in government, including Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi, his deputy Jeremy Cronin, Agriculture Minister Senzeni Zokwana and Nzimande will be targeted in the next cabinet reshuffle.
Cronin said they would wear it as a badge of honour if they were fired, adding it was better to speak the truth, in a responsible way, than to keep quiet.
Nzimande said there was growing impatience in the SACP about how the alliance partners were being treated in government. “What really irritates me is this thing that we are there (in government) because we want positions. We are proud and humbled to serve in national government.”