Ramaphosa defers decision on what action, if any, to take against Gordhan
The president is awaiting the outcome of Gordhan's court bid to have Mkhwebane's report on maladministration at SARS set aside.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has indicated to Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane that he has opted to defer his decision on what disciplinary action, if any, to take against Minister Pravin Gordhan.
This is because the president is awaiting the outcome of Gordhan's court bid to have Mkhwebane's report on maladministration at the South African Revenue Service (SARS) set aside.
In a statement released on Monday, the Presidency said Ramaphosa submitted a written response to the public protector on the issue, in compliance with the recommendations she set out.
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Mkhwebane had directed the president to take note of the findings in the report insofar as they relate to minister Gordhan and to take appropriate disciplinary action against the Minister.
However, the Presidency noted that "no deadline was given by when such “appropriate disciplinary action” should be taken."
According to the statement: "President Ramaphosa assured the Public Protector that he had, as directed, taken note of the findings against Minister Gordhan.
"At the same time, the President drew the Public Protector’s attention to the fact that Minister Gordhan had brought a High Court application on 28 May 2019 – four days after the Public Protector had released Report No 24 of 2019/20 – in which the Minister is currently seeking an order reviewing and setting aside the findings and recommendations contained in the report."
The statement went on to say that in light of the pending court case, "it would be inappropriate to take disciplinary action against Minister Gordhan at this point".
"The President submitted to the Public Protector that the process of taking appropriate disciplinary action against Minister Gordhan would best be served by waiting until the legal processes of his review proceedings were concluded," according to the Presidency.
"The President therefore indicated to the Public Protector his intention to defer his decision on what disciplinary action if any to take against Minister Gordhan until final determination of the Minister’s review application."