Cape Town - President Jacob Zuma has “affirmed his support” for Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan in a statement issued on Tuesday night, but failed to say whether he would bow to calls to intervene in the minister’s legal woes.
Zuma urged the National Prosecuting Authority, which served Gordhan with a summons to appear in court on fraud charges on November 2, to “conduct the matter with the necessary dignity and respect”.
“Our society is anchored on the rule of law as well as fair and just judicial processes. In this regard, Minister Gordhan is innocent until and unless proven otherwise by a court of law. This is a fundamental pillar of our constitutional democracy and the rule of law,” Zuma said in the statement.
Zuma’s office further noted the decision by the NPA came “at a most sensitive time” as Gordhan was leading efforts to grow the country’s economy by bringing together business, government and labour.
There have been growing calls in political and economic circles for Zuma to intervene with fears that Gordhan’s arrest could bring South Africa’s credit rating one step closer to being downgraded to junk status.
African News Agency