Hawks swoop on Gordhan and former SARS colleagues

The knives are out for Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, who is not only facing possible arrest by the Hawks tomorrow – he has been asked to present himself at their offices in connection with the alleged ‘rogue unit' at SARS – but is also the centre of what a News24 report describes as ‘a massive new forensic probe into deals concluded during his tenure at the organisation’. The report says SARS has appointed accounting firm Grant Thornton to conduct a forensic investigation into its modernisation and technology programme, which was implemented between 2007 and 2014. Gordhan was SARS commissioner from 1999 until 2009. A Business Day report says it is understood that Gordhan and four former SARS employees were sent letters asking them to present themselves to the Hawks tomorrow morning for warning statements. The letters indicate that the investigations into the unit are complete and that the individuals should present themselves to give their own versions 'in the form of (sic) warning statement'. However, it says, there have some indications that the National Director of Public Prosecutions is not yet satisfied that the docket can support the charges, hence the attempt by the Hawks to bolster it. One employee, Andries Janse Van Rensburg, has already done so. Two others are former Deputy Commissioner Ivan Pillay and former head of strategy Johan van Loggerenberg. Former head of risk and strategy Pete Richer was asked to give a statement, but after his legal representative queried the reason, he was not contacted again. The allegations against them include the contravention of the National Strategic Intelligence Act and contravention of the Regulation of Interception of Communications Act. A criminal attorney reportedly explained to News24 a warning statement was taken when formal charges were put to a suspect. ‘This is accompanied by the taking of fingerprints and is a precursor to the suspect appearing in court,’ he said.