Parliament – African National Congress chief whip in Parliament Jackson Mthembu on Thursday backed Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, saying he was not the criminal type and called on those who were “peddling lies” about him to be caught.
Addressing journalists in Parliament, Mthembu condemned weekend media reports of Gordhan’s imminent arrest by the Hawks in connection with alleged wrondoing by an intelligence gathering unit within the SA Revenue Service while he was still its boss.
“The question that begs an answer – who is peddling these lies and for what reason? From where we are seated as the African National Congress, we respect Gordhan… we don’t think he’s a criminal type,” Mthembu said.
“We hope that they are stopped, but first they are found, so we all get what are their motives for peddling these lies.”
Following the media reports, both the Hawks and the National Prosecuting Authority denied the minister was about to be arrested.
Gordhan later issued a statement, maintaining his innocence, adding that allegations levelled against him were manufactured for ulterior motive.
“The malicious rumours and accusations about ‘espionage’ activities are false and manufactured for other motives,” Gordhan said.
“It is particularly painful to me, and I’m sure to many earnest democrats, to witness this unrestrained attack on honest and hardworking people and the institutions meant to strengthen our democracy… I appeal to all South Africans to protect the National Treasury staff, who have diligently, honestly and skillfully served the national interest to the best of their ability.”
African News Agency