South Africa President Zuma Says He Can’t Stop Gordhan Probe
- Zuma expresses ‘full confidence’ in finance minister
- Zuma’s statement an attempt to reassure markets: Mathekga
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South African President Jacob Zuma said that while he has “full confidence” in his finance minister, he has no power to stop a police probe into allegations that Pravin Gordhan established an illicit investigative unit during his tenure as head of the national tax agency.
The presidency issued the statement after Gordhan refused a request by a special police investigative unit known as the Hawks to appear at its offices on Thursday for questioning, saying he had done nothing wrong. The Sunday Times newspaper reported in May that Gordhan may face dismissal and arrest on espionage charges for setting up the so-called National Research Group within the tax agency to spy on politicians including Zuma.