Gordhan thinks he is untouchable - Malema

Johannesburg - Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan thinks he is untouchable, EFF leader Julius Malema told journalists on Monday.

"Why would Pravin refuse to go to the Hawks? Why would Pravin try to behave like he is untouchable? Like if you touch him, this country will collapse. You don't correct a wrong by doing wrong. Pravin must subject himself to the Hawks. It doesn't matter how many drunkards are leading the Hawks today. Respect the institution called the Hawks."

Malema said Gordhan was setting a precedent for South Africans to disrespect the Hawks.

He said South Africans could now tell the Hawks where to get off, because "we learnt from Pravin". He said Gordhan should teach South Africans that when the law calls you to account, "be scared and respond".

"When you are called by such institutions, as a political figure, you must restore and protect the image and the credibility of that institution. You just go. He [thinks] he is the most powerful man. He is untouchable. If you touch him the markets will react. We can’t have a minister appointed by markets."

Defending the office of President Jacob Zuma, Malema said South Africans needed to protect the power of the presidential office. He said South Africans should not be pleased that Zuma is losing his fight against Gordhan because this was rendering his office forever useless for incoming presidents.

Malema said the country could not be run by markets. "When you take over that office, you will want to check who [Johann] Rupert wants... It can't be. Let the markets and Rupert contest elections and appoint finance ministers. Finance ministers and ministers of Cabinet must be appointed by the president."

He said everyone "must allow the president that space". He said Gordhan was directly involved in the conflict of interest. Malema added that Gordhan's business interests were what needed to be probed by the Hawks, not his tenure at Sars.

"The only thing which people can have legitimately against him is his business interest. A minister of finance having shares at Standard Bank, yet he must still supervise an institution that must supervise the banks. That is what we should be talking about... if you raise that, I am prepared to listen. Not these things of Sars."

This article first appeared on News24.