Hawks want Nene to testify against Gordhan: report
Former finance minister, Nhlanhla Nene, is being targeted by the Hawks as a potential state witness in its case against current minister, Pravin Gordhan.
This is according to a report in the Sunday Times which stated that investigators from the special policing unit met Nene and his lawyer in Johannesburg earlier this week.
Gordhan is facing a charge of corruption for granting former Sars commissioner Ivan Pillay, early retirement and later extending his contract.
The special investigations unit has also accused the finance minister of setting up an investigation unit within Sars which gathered, collected and evaluated intelligence.
Gordhan has denied any and all wrongdoing.
Citing senior officials at the Hawks, the Sunday Times reported that the meeting resulted in Nene agreeing to testify against Gordhan. However, a source close to the former minister dismissed this.
“There was nothing official. They – Nene and his attorney – said the Hawks should send them something in writing and they would respond. The Hawks have not yet written to them. We don’t know what the purpose is,” the source said.
Nene told the Sunday Times that he was “not at liberty to discuss the meeting” with the Hawks.
“I can neither deny nor confirm that it happened,” he said.
“Nene is expected to testify about his knowledge of the SARS rogue unit during his tenure as finance minister, what did he do when the allegations about it were made public and whether he ever asked for an explanation about the role and the nature of the unit from Pravin,” a Hawks official told the Sunday Times.
It also stated that the Hawks tried unsuccessfully to convince former SARS commissioner, Oupa Magashula, to testify against Gordhan.
It has been reported that the Hawks want to arrest the country’s finance head as soon as National Prosecuting Authority head Shaun Abrahams is satisfied that there is sufficient evidence.
NPA spokesman Luvuyo Mfaku told the Sunday Times: “The NPA has not taken a decision to prosecute any person(s) in respect of the so- called SARS rogue unit investigation.
“It follows therefore that the issue of witnesses or witness list does not even remotely arise. It would be highly irresponsible for us to comment on investigative issues.”
Read the full article in the 4 September 2016 edition of the Sunday Times.
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