The Hawks elite police unit on Tuesday warned Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan it would “exercise its constitutional powers” after he failed to meet a second deadline to answer its questions.<\/p>\n
The rand lost 3%, hitting exactly R16.00 against the dollar at 16h45.<\/p>\n
It traded at R22.56 versus the pound (down 1.70%), and lost 2.66% against the euro at R17.70.<\/p>\n
Gordhan said on Sunday that a deadline imposed on him by the Hawks\u00a0to respond to questions on his role in setting up a spy unit at the South African Revenue Service was not achievable.<\/p>\n
According to Reuters<\/a>, the Hawks are investigating the unit on suspicion of conducting illegal surveillance on taxpayers, while Gordhan has said he has no case to answer.<\/p>\n Gordhan said in his statement that a letter sent by his attorneys to the head of the police unit on 7 March 2016, indicates clearly that the deadline imposed “is not achievable given the roadshow I was undertaking”.<\/p>\n The minister embarked on an investor roadshow in London and the United States last week, as the country fends off junk status by major ratings agencies.<\/p>\n \u201cOur immediate task \u2013 all of us \u2013 is to avoid a downgrade and find urgent ways of growing our economy and creating jobs,\u201d the minister said.<\/p>\n \u201cOnce again the Hawks, and those who instruct them, have no regard for the economic and social welfare of millions,\u201d Gordhan\u2019s statement said.<\/p>\n The Hawks hit back in a statement of their own on Tuesday, noting that the minister, “for whatever reasons, has failed to meet the second deadline for answering questions”.<\/p>\n The crime unit said that its legal team “are forging a way forward which will see the Hawks exercising our constitutional powers”.<\/p>\n “The investigations will not be stalled by an individual who refuses to comply with the authorities and demand a preferential treatment,” the Hawks said.<\/p>\n “This is neither a talk-show nor a soapie. We are mandated to investigate without fear, favour or prejudice and there is nowhere in the constitution wherein calling a press conference has been mentioned as another means of conducting investigations,” it said.<\/p>\n Read the full statement here<\/a><\/p>\n Hawks intimidatory tactics like old Security Police: Gordhan<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n What would happen if Gordhan quit as finance minister<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Zuma to get hands-on in Gordhan vs Monyane saga<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Gordhan: \u2018Who are the Hawks to question me?\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nMore on the Hawks<\/h3>\n