Blame must be put on those who destroyed, handicapped SOEs: Gordhan

Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan has called on South Africans to focus their attention on how to recover from the destruction caused by state capture.

He says it is workers who pay the price for the theft of money from State-Owned-Enterprises. He says the economy has also suffered from inefficiencies and distorted operations.

Speaking during the budget vote debate of his department in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), Gordhan says blame and anger must be placed at the door of those who destroyed and handicapped state-owned businesses.

“All of us must focus our undivided attention to those who stole our money, to those who actively collaborated, to those businesses and professionals who enabled this theft, and to those businesses and professionals who dedicated their energies to defend the corrupt.

“We must today in a single chorus say, “pay back the money”. We must together notwithstanding our political loyalties demand of the SIU, the Hawks and the NPA that we want speedier justice for our people.”

Wednesday’s State Capture proceedings:

Gordhan vs Moyane

Meanwhile, in an open statement to the commission, Tom Moyane claimed the commission gave Gordhan limitless time to tannish his name while his legal counsel received an hour to defend him in the commission.

Moyane was appointed by former President Jacob Zuma to head SARS in 2014. Moyane said Gordhan is a condescending man who has racist tendencies. Moyane recalled several episodes where Gordhan shouted and embarrassed him in front of people.

Furthermore, Moyane said Gordhan was jealous of him and treated him like a leper.

Moyane told the State Capture Commission that while Commissioner of Sars, he exceeded his tax collection targets for three consecutive years: collecting a surplus of R7.3 billion in the 2014-2015 and a surplus of R200 million in the 2015-2016 financial year.