Gordhan predicts increase in 'Bell Pottinger-type activities'

Gordhan has been kept in his portfolio by President Jacob Zuma, despite strong opposition from some quarters.

Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane last week found that Gordhan improperly approved the early pension payout of former South African Revenue Service commissioner Ivan Pillay. 

She directed President Ramaphosa to take action against Gordhan as she believes he had violated the Constitution.

Gordan has already filed papers to review and set aside the report. 

Speaking after being sworn-in as minister at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House in Pretoria on Thursday, Gordhan said he believes he was reappointed because "we've got a job to do". 

"Which is to get the state-owned entities to work, and to work efficiently and become self-sufficient. And to continue to unravel state capture and corruption within these entities, which of course will have a whole lot of ripple effects as well," he said. 

"And as those ripples begin to reach people who are impacted by the exposures, we'll see lots of fake narratives as you see elsewhere in the world and in South Africa. You might already see an increase in the Bell Pottinger-type of activity as well, so you actually smear the people doing the good work of exposing corruption. We're not going to be intimidated in the course of doing that work."

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) warned President Ramaphosa not to appoint Gordhan ahead of the cabinet announcement, describing him as a "constitutional delinquent". 

"No, no I was part of drafting the constitution so we can't be delinquents. So they must get good advice from good lawyers and it will tell them that's not the case," Gordhan said.