South Africa’s finance minister declines to comment on ANC backing
NAN-F-27
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Cape Town, Oct. 27, 2016 (Reuters/NAN) South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, on Thursday, declined to say whether he was confident of the ruling party’s support.
Speaking a day after presenting his mid-term budget to parliament, he declined less than a week before he appears in court to answer fraud charges in a saga that has rocked the government.
Gordhan said he had tried not to let his Nov. 2 court case distract him while outlining measures to help kick-start an economy that he predicted would barely grow this year.
The minister was accused of fraudulently approving; in a previous post as head of the revenue service, early retirement for a deputy tax commissioner.
He was also charged for re-hiring him as a consultant, costing the tax agency 79,000 dollars.
Gordhan denied any wrongdoing, saying the case is politically motivated, a sentiment echoed by opposition parties, business leaders and some senior African National Congress (ANC) party figures.
The state prosecutor has rejected allegations of political interference.
Asked during a post-budget breakfast meeting whether he was still confident he had political backing, Gordhan said: “I’m not trying to duck, but I’m not going to answer it.”
The ructions in government have weakened the rand and bonds in an economy struggling to create jobs.
Some analysts said that President Jacob Zuma’s allies are driving the investigation in a bid to oust Gordhan, something the president denied.
“He (Gordhan) is well aware that while he does have some support inside the ANC, the faction that’s supporting him is not winning.
“If you’re asked if you have support and you say I’m not answering that question, obviously he thinks he doesn’t,” NKC Africa Economics analyst Gary Staden said.
Gordhan, on Wednesday slashed growth forecasts for the next three years and predicted wider budget deficits than previously expected.
He said that he was not preoccupied with whether he had done enough to stave off credit rating downgrades.
“Our preoccupation is not rating agencies. Our preoccupation is putting the country on the right footing.
“If we build confidence to the point where we get investment going everybody including ratings agencies will believe that we as a government are doing the right thing,” Gordhan said. dpa/NAN)
OYE/AFA
Edited by Damilola Oyewole/Felix Ajide
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