Gordhan: why did Hawks leak letters

Angelique Serrao

IF THERE was ever a point in time South Africans needed to be positive about the country in order to encourage foreign investment, it was now.

This was Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan’s message yesterday as he appealed to South Africans to rally around his efforts to save the country’s economy in the face of threats of a further downgrade.

However, Gordhan’s message that it was time for us to “pull up our socks as a country” was smothered by politically loaded questions about the politically connected Gupta family, and President Jacob Zuma’s unceremonious axing of his (Gordhan’s) predecessor, Nhlanhla Nene.

Gordhan also had to field tough questions around his seemingly frosty relationship with SA Revenue Service (Sars) commissioner Tom Moyane and whether he would answer the Hawks’ 27 questions about a so-called Sars rogue unit.

Gordhan, however, set the tone from the outset on what the focus of his media briefing was to be, following his return from his investor roadshow to London and the US. He said while he thought “it’s nice” that so many journalists were interested in investment in South Africa, “that is all I will deal with”.

He kept his word and managed to avoid answering the multiple politically charged questions thrown his way. Yet, there were hints of what he was thinking in his short- clipped replies.

Gordhan was repeatedly asked if he knew if the Guptas and ANC deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte had met his deputy, Mcebisi Jonas, to try to give him the job of finance minister.

Gordhan said the ANC had issued a statement denying Duarte’s involvement.

As for the Gupta issue, Gordhan said “my silence tells it all”. He said he had no personal knowledge of this event and it was his own business if Jonas and him had any conversation about it.

He was also asked if he had had any meetings or social events, such as supper, with the Gupta family. Again, his reply was a firm “no”.

Gordhan said he found it interesting that the Hawks had leaked two letters to the media.

“Why leak information? Just hold a press conference and lay it all on the table.”

Gordhan admitted that foreign investors had also broached him with political questions about what was happening in the country, particularly about “9/12” – the sacking of Nene. Investors wanted reassurance that all was well in South Africa.

Gordhan said the delegation at the roadshow, which included business and union leaders, met investors who collectively manage several trillions of dollars of assets. They are the investors the country owes R600 billion.

Gordhan said it was crucial that the country be seen as united and focused on socio-economic challenges.

A delegation from ratings agency Moody’s arrives in the country tomorrow to assess whether it will be downgraded.

“If we get downgraded, plan B is that we get upgraded again,” Gordhan said.

“But it’s not so simple, it takes an average five years for that to happen.

“Right now what we need to focus on is what’s good for the country.”