AfriForum welcomes NPA decision to withdraw charges against Gordhan

31 October 2016 

The civil rights organisation AfriForum welcomes the decision of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to withdraw the charges against Pravin Gordhan, Minister of Finance.

Monique Taute, Head of AfriForum’s Anti-corruption Unit, says it is however regrettable that it had to take the pressure and intervention of civil society to come to this point.

Taute continues to add that it is unacceptable that the right decision regarding Gordhan was not taken from the very start and that civil institutions had to turn to the courts to see to it that justice prevailed and that the supreme authority of the law was acknowledged.

Taute believes the actions of Adv. Shaun Abrahams, National Director of Public Prosecution, in handling the Gordhan saga leaves much to be desired.

“He is clearly not competent nor impartial and should be fired. The way he handled the case has plunged the entire country into an economic crisis and South Africa still faces the risk of being further downgraded at the end of the year.”

Issued by Monique Taute, Head: Anti-corruption Unit, AfriForum, 31 October 2016