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.
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.