EFF against Gordhan's arrest - Floyd Shivambu

16 May 2016

Durban – The EFF was opposed to the arrest of Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan by business interests “who want to continue to steal money from the country", deputy president Floyd Shivambu said on Monday.

"We are living in a captured country, captured by white capital monopoly and recently by the Gupta family as well," Shivambu said in Durban during a meeting with councillor candidates and branch members.

"They now want to arrest Pravin Gordhan because they want to continue to steal the money. We will never defend Pravin Gordhan, but we do not agree with his arrest, because he accounts in Stellenbosch."

He was commenting on the Sunday Times report that Gordhan could be arrested for his alleged involvement in the South African Revenue Service’s "rogue unit". The Hawks had reportedly handed the docket over to the National Prosecuting Authority.

A top police investigating team allegedly wanted Gordhan and eight others prosecuted for espionage. The unit was allegedly spying on taxpayers during Gordhan’s tenure as Sars commissioner.

Shivambu told about 300 EFF members that the party had been warning the country about state capture. He said the country was run by a "criminal syndicate" intent on stealing money.

He questioned where the Guptas got the R445m they reportedly used to buy a house in Dubai, after they left South Africa in April.

"They took it from here and the reason why the banks are saying that they cannot work with the Guptas is because they can see there is corruption, but banks cannot report their clients to the police, they can only divorce you."

Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane, Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant and Gordhan had been tasked with holding talks with the country's big four banks, after they cut ties with the Gupta-owned Oakbay Investments. This was due to concerns that the move could deter foreign investment, Fin24 reported last week.

This article first appeared on News24, see here.