‘Remedial action a direct interference with president’s powers’
President Cyril Ramaphosa's legal counsel has told the high court in Pretoria High the instruction for the president to discipline Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan would interfere with his executive powers.
Ramaphosa and Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane on Thursday battled it out in court over her remedial action.
The case relates to Mkhwebane's findings that Gordhan was not authorized to approve former South African Revenue Service deputy commissioner Ivan Pillay's retirement.
She ordered Ramaphosa to discipline Gordhan, but Gordhan is taking the report on review.
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Advocate Hamilton Manenje, who is arguing for Ramaphosa, says the issue is not whether Mkhwebane's orders are justified.
"The remedial action directing the president to take disciplinary actions against the minster is a direct interference with the executive powers of the president.
"We're not arguing whether the interference is justified or not. We’re simply saying it interferes with that."
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