Sanco – Zupta v Gordhan is “not good for SA’s image”. Ditto 3% lower Rand.

Johannesburg – The escalating tension between the Hawks and the Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan is not good for the image of the country, the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) said on Tuesday.

In a statement Sanco spokesperson, Jabu Mahlangu, said the alleged leaking of sensitive letters related to the Sars 'rogue unit' probe, misinformation and blow-by-blow investigation through the media undermined confidentiality, co-operative governance and professionalism.

"South Africa can ill-afford perception of an agency of state that is at loggerheads with the minister of finance at a time when he needs support to drive the economic turn-around plan to deal with the prospect of an economic downgrade," he said.

The Hawks released a statement on Tuesday warning Gordhan that the directorate would "exercise its constitutional powers" and would not give him preferential treatment. The Hawks added that Gordhan's actions were "disturbing".

In the fully loaded statement the Hawks said, "We find it very disturbing when the minister is adamant that he never saw a letter with 14 March 2016 as his second deadline to answer questions."

Gordhan on Sunday criticised the special police unit for harassing him.

Days before he delivered his 2016 budget, the Hawks sent him a list of questions about the so-called rogue spy unit at the SA Revenue Service.

He was given a new deadline of Monday afternoon to answer the questions. The unit was apparently set up when Gordhan was Sars commissioner. The Hawks wanted Gordhan to tell them what he knew about the unit.

The Hawks said Gordhan failed to meet the second deadline for answering questions and that its legal team was forging a way forward that would see the unit exercise its constitutional powers.

"The investigations will not be stalled by an individual who refuses to comply with the authorities and demand preferential treatment,"' it said. – News24

Source: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/escalating-tension-between-hawks-and-godhan-not-a-good-image-for-sa-sanco-20160315