FUL, HSF writes to NPA over Gordhan
The organisations Freedom Under Law and the Helen Suzman Foundation have written to the prosecuting authorities calling for the withdrawal of charges against the Finance Minister, Pravin Gordhan.
In a joint statement today the organisations said after analysing the charges, they've concluded that, on the face of it, they were legally flawed and factually unfounded.
They said ordinarily one does not comment on the merits of pending court cases.
But, the Freedom Under Law and the Helen Suzman Foundation say they cannot stand by while untold damage is being done to the reputation and stability of the country.
Piet Olivier of the Helen Suzman Foundation says a copy of the letter was delivered to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) this morning.
He says failure to halt prosecution could lead to urgent proceedings to stop Gordhan's prosecution.
"In order for the state to prove a charge of fraud, you have to prove that the minister intentionally defrauded the state to its prejudice, and on any conceivable set of facts, that isn't the case. It's the same of theft. The charge of theft is incoherent and incomprehensible. After receiving legal advice, we concluded that the charges are baseless and that is why we have written to the head of the NPA, inviting him to withdraw the charges," Olivier said.