South Africa News

DA says Cyril Ramaphosa cannot ignore Public Protector action against Gordhan

The Democratic Alliance’s (DA’s) shadow minister of Public Enterprises, Natasha Mazzone, said on Friday that President Cyril Ramaphosa is bound by the Public Protector’s (PP’s) report on Minister Pravin Gordhan and would have to take remedial action or take it on review.

Mazzone said the findings of the PP, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, that Gordhan violated the Constitution when he allowed for the operation of the so-called South African Revenue Services (SARS) rogue unit during his tenure at the helm of the tax agency and that he lied about meeting the Guptas cannot be ignored.

Pravin Gordhan

She said that despite her party’s views on the suitability of Mkhwebane to hold office, the DA was obliged to preserve the integrity of the PP’s office as a Chapter 9 institution.

“The PP recommended remedial action for President Cyril Ramaphosa to implement. Should the President or Minister Gordhan believe the report is flawed, either procedurally or materially, he has the full right to take it on review.

“However if he elects not to, he is bound by it and has to implement its recommendations as far as it concerns him,” Mazzone said in the statement.
Mazzone said the DA’s commitment to upholding the law superseded personal and political disagreements and regardless, “the PP has now made a finding and the law must take its course”.

You might also like…EFF calls for Ramaphosa to fire Gordhan with immediate effect

President Cyril Ramaphosa must fire public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan from his cabinet with immediate effect for his role in the establishment of the South African Revenue Service (Sars) “rogue unit”.

Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan

This call was made by the Economic Freedom Fighters on Friday following the finding by Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane that the setting up of the unit, approved by Gordhan, was in violation of the constitution…Read more here

Source: IOL