THE ECONOMIC FREEDOM FIGHTERS HAS REPORTED PRAVIN GORDHAN TO THE PUBLIC PROTECTOR FOR LYING TO PARLIAMENT.

Thursday, 8 November, 2018

The Economic Freedom Fighters has written an official complaint to the Public Protector to investigate the Minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan. In a 2016 response to a Parliamentary Question, Pravin Gordhan responded as follows, "l have not attended any meetings with the Gupta family or anyone else at their Saxonworld Estate. I have encountered one or more members of his family at public events on a few occasions, eg. a cricket match. I have met one of the Gupta brothers at Mahlamba Ndlovu around 2009/10 during which a brief discussion on small business finance took place."

In this response to Parliament, Gordhan deliberately did not include a meeting he held with the Indian Billionare, Mr. Ambaani, and Ajay Gupta, to discuss the possible investment in M TN, which is strange since Pravin Gordhan was not a significant shareholder in MTN, nor any of its Executives. Not disclosing meetings and engagements when a minister is asked about them is a serious violation of the Executive Ethics Code.

On the 15th of April 2016, the EFF, in the name of its Deputy President and Chief Whip, asked the then Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan, if any of the senior staff at Treasury had met with any ofthe Gupta family members. In response, Pravin Gordhan categorically stated that:

"The National Treasury is not aware of any senior officials from the level of Director-General downwards to have met with the persons mentioned in the Parliamentary question during the period 1 January 2009 up to 31 December 2015."

Yet, in his affidavit, on paragraph 123, Pravin Gordhan states that a meeting with the held Indian Billionare, Mr. Ambaani, and Ajay Gupta was arranged by his then Chief of Staff, Dondo Mogajane.

Beyond undermining the Executive Ethics Code, by lying to parliament, Gordhan has violated his oath of office, and thus the constitution of the Republic of South Africa. Immediately after the exposure of Nhlanhla Nene's public lies about his meetings and engagements with the Guptas, Pravin Gordhan asked for the postponement of his appearance before the State capture Inquiry, and used the intervening period to alter his initially submitted affidavit. Because the first affidavit was submitted, it is evident now that even for State capture Inquiry purposes, Pravin Gordhan lied under oath.

In the revised affidavit, Pravin Gordhan claims that he does not remember if Ajay Gupta was part of the meeting with Mr. Ambaani; and alleges that it is only his then Chief of Staff, now Director General in the National Treasury Dondo Mogojane, who remembers that Ajay Gupta was present in the meeting. This is pure opportunistic falsehood by a Minister, who had planned to mislead the Commision on State capture, and only retreated when he realized that he will be exposed.

As a body that is legislatively mandated with investigations of members of the Executive who violate the Executive Ethics Code; the Office of the Public Protector should investigate the fact that Pravin Gordhan lied to Parliament by not disclosing the meeting he held with Ajay Gupta to discuss MTN business dealings. The Executive Ethics Code forbids members of the Executive from misleading Parliament.

It is absolutely impossible that Pravin Gordhan was not aware that he held a meeting with Ajay Gupta, and claiming amnesia even now, is opportunistic and further misleading of the people of South Africa.

In the same way the Public Protector exposed the lies of Malusi Gigaba, the office should do the same with the liar who has been behaving like he is a paragon of political correctness and virtue. When Nhlanhla Nene was exposed as having told lies about his Gupta relationship, he fell on his sword. Pravin Gordhan should fall on his sword for lying as well.

The EFF calls on all Ministers, including Pravin Gordhan, to voluntarily disclose all their engagements and dealings with the Guptas. South Africa cannot afford to be led by Liars, who thereafter use their media platforms and newsletters to justify their nonsensical lies. The ruling party must also apply consistency in dealing with Liars, and should not tip-toe around minorities the way they always do.

Statement issued by the Economic Freedom Fighters, 8 November 2018