ANC backs Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan

Gordhan is in the headlines, with various newspapers reporting on his battle with the Hawks, as well as SARS boss Tom Moyane and President Jacob Zuma.

In a rare statement Mantashe expressed concern over the Hawks sending a list of questions to Gordhan over the alleged rogue SARS spy unit, a mere four days before an important budget speech.

Mantashe believes there are elements who want to undo Gordhan's good work.

"That is dangerous. It's actually smacking of the old tactics" he said.

Indications are that Gordhan was not President Zuma's first choice to replace the short lived Des van Rooyen and that the media reports are part of a bigger power struggle.

Mantashe said the Hawks must investigate, but must not do so through the media.

"We think that all this that get leaked to the media are an effort to destabilize the country again," he said.