DOCUMENTS

SARS: Pravin Gordhan's reply to the Hawks

Finance minister's lawyers ask directorate what offence is being investigated, and one whose authority

Text of letter from Gildenhuys Malatji Attorneys, acting on behalf of Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, to head of Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Berning Ntlemeza, 2 March 2016

OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL HEAD DIRECTORATE FOR PRIORITY CRIME INVESTIGATION

HEAD OFFICE PRETORIA

FOR ATT: Lt GENERAL BM NTLEMEZA

Dear Lt General Ntlemeza,

INVESTIGATION QUESTIONS: BROOKLYN CAS 427/05/2015 – THE HON. MINISTER PRAVIN GORDHAN

1. We refer to your letters of 19 February and 1 March 2016.

2. We confirm that we act on behalf of the Honourable Minister of Finance, Mr Pravin Gordhan MP. Your letters have been directed to us for a response.

3. You will have been aware that, at the time your letter of 19 February 2016 was delivered, the Honourable Minister was engaged in preparing the national Budget Speech for presentation to Parliament on 24 February 2016. This is particularly so since, when you telephoned on 18 February in an attempt to speak to him you were requested to contact him after the Budget Speech.

4. You are aware of the national importance of the Budget Speech, and that he was not able to permit any distractions to jeopardise the Budget processes.

5. In the circumstances, he has only just been able to begin to consult with his legal representatives on the best way in which to respond to your letter, and the questions annexed to it.

6. He is therefore unable to respond by 16h00 today as you have requested. He will respond in due course, once he has properly examined the questions and ascertained what information, of the information you request, he is able to provide.

7. That said, we request the following information to assist him in preparing his response:

7.1 On what authority do you rely on directing these questions to the Honourable Minister?

7.2 Are you investigating any offence? If so, what is it?

8. We look forward to your response at your earliest convenience.

Yours faithfully

GILDENHUYS MALATJI INC

Per: T Malatji

Transmitted electronically without signature

Issued by Treasury, 2 March 2016