Avatar photo

By Citizen Reporter

Journalist


Zondo reserves decision in Moyane’s application to cross-examine Minister Gordhan

The minister is opposed, apparently because the former revenue boss is supporting the EFF's political campaign against him. 


The chairperson of the commission of inquiry into state capture, Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, has reserved his decision on sacked SA Revenue Service (Sars) commissioner Tom Moyane’s application to cross-examine Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan.

Moyane was represented by advocate Dali Mpofu who made the application at the commission on Wednesday and Gordhan was represented by advocate Michelle le Roux.

Zondo said he “may ask the parties to deal with any other issues that may arise when I look at the matter”.

Gordhan was opposed to Moyane’s application reportedly on the grounds that the former revenue boss is helping advance the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) political campaign against him.

The minister’s opposition to Moyane’s application has drawn widespread criticism on social media. Gordhan has been accused of “wanting to be treated differently” from other witnesses before the commission.

Gordhan and the EFF leadership have been at each other’s throats since last year, laying criminal charges against each other.

The red berets accused Gordhan of corruption that it said extended to his family.

The EFF took its protests against Gordhan to the state capture commission venue in November last year, calling on the minister to resign while the latter was inside giving testimony.

EFF leader Julius Malema went as far as calling the minister a “dog” in service of white monopoly capital.

Gordhan, in turn, approached the Equality Court, asking it to determine whether Malema’s utterances constituted hate speech. He demanded an unconditional apology and damages of R150,000 from Malema and his deputy Floyd Shivambu.

In his testimony, Gordhan told the Zondo commission that former president Jacob Zuma was ”hellbent” on appointing Moyane as Sars commissioner, ignoring advice that there were more skilled and credible candidates for the job.

Zuma appointed Moyane in 2013 to replace Oupa Magashula, who had resigned after a recording surfaced in which he was heard promising a young woman a top post at the revenue collector.

Gordhan told the inquiry that Zuma hastened the appointment and would not hear of any other candidates other than Moyane, whom he said was not subjected to competency processes.

The Nugent-led commission of inquiry that looked into the governance and structural failures at Sars in 2018 found that Moyane was reckless in his management of Sars.

Moyane, who had been on suspension pending the inquiry, was fired by President Cyril Ramaphosa as recommended in the Nugent report.

Watch the proceedings live:

(Compiled by Makhosandile Zulu, additional reporting done by ANA)

For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.

Read more on these topics

Pravin Gordhan State Capture Tom Moyane

For more news your way

Download our app and read this and other great stories on the move. Available for Android and iOS.