Net is closing on Gordhan

The Gordhan-NPA stand-off; the Gupta family’s alleged role in contracts being probed by the Treasury; the family’s surprise decision to liquidate its assets in SA by year-end; and speculation that President Jacob Zuma is poised to remove Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan from his Cabinet continued to get intensive media attention at the weekend, notes Legalbrief. A criminal charge against Gordhan would provide the perfect reason for Zuma to ditch his Finance Minister, and, according to a City Press report, there is a strong likelihood that could happen as early as this week. It claims more than 30 witnesses have been lined up to testify against Gordhan and three former SARS officials. Although it didn’t deny the City Press report outright, the NPA insisted that no decision on prosecutions had yet been made. However, NPA spokesperson Luvuyo Mfaku said the prosecution had on Friday been handed a docket by the police, notes a BDlive report. ‘We have received a docket relating to the so-called SARS rogue unit,’ and prosecutors were sifting through the paper Mfaku said. ‘We have not identified any individuals, we have to look at the docket and review the strength of the evidence,’ he said. ‘If there is sufficient evidence, a decision will be made.’