Questions sent to Gordhan only 'for clarity', Nhleko insists
Cape Town - Questions sent to Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan by the Hawks don’t mean the former Sars head is under investigation, Police Minister Nathi Nhleko said on Wednesday.
"It is for clarity," he insisted at a media briefing, saying the response would form part of the probe.
Nhleko confirmed Gordhan had indicated he would not be able to respond by the Wednesday deadline, saying he had been informed that the minister had requested an extension.
Among the 27 questions posed to the former Sars commissioner are whether he had any knowledge of the disbandment of the National Research Group (NRG) in 2009, leading to the establishment of the High Risk Investigation Unit (HRIU) or the "rogue unit"; the aims and objectives of the new unit; and who was heading the unit and to whom it was responsible and accountable.
Nhleko said there were also no charges yet, arguing that one "can’t have charges without investigations into possible violations".