Mkhwebane orders Ramaphosa to act against Gordhan for ‘violating constitution’
Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane has ordered that President Cyril Ramaphosa act against Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan for violating the constitution.
This follows an investigation into allegations of maladministration and impropriety against Gordhan, for the approval of former South African Revenue Service deputy commissioner Ivan Pillay’s early retirement with full pension benefits.
Mkhwebane, who briefed the media in Pretoria on Friday, found that “minister Gordhan irregularly approved the early retirement of Pillay with full retirement benefits and his subsequent retention at SARS as substantiated”.
“The president of the Republic of South Africa should take note of the findings in this report in so far as they related to the erstwhile Minister of Finance, Mr Gordhan, and to take appropriate disciplinary action against him for violating the constitution,” said Mkhewbane.
Questions have been raised around the timing of Mkhwebane’s, especially with the imminent announcement of a new cabinet.
Another investigation cleared former Mpumalanga premier David Mabuza of any wrongdoing in the procurement of luxury vehicles by his office.
“I must do my work without fear or favor or prejudice, why must events dictate to me how I must do my work,” she said.