South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said the police investigation against him is nothing but political mischief and will be resolved soon.
“As far as the so-called investigation is concerned, that’s no more than a bit of political mischief, which every country will have,” Gordhan said in an interview with Bloomberg TV in New York Tuesday. “I’m sure we in South Africa will resolve these issues.”
Reports in August that Gordhan, who led efforts earlier in the year boost the confidence in the economy, is being investigated by the police for overseeing the establishment of an investigative unit when he led the Revenue Service between 1999 and 2009 hit the rand and bonds. The police and National Prosecuting Authority haven’t made contact with him since the week of August 22, when he was ordered to present himself to the Hawks, a special police unit, Gordhan said.
“They can’t make up their minds at the moment,” he said. “The latest news in the media is that they believe they don’t actually have a case.”
Gordhan is in New York with a delegation of business leaders and central bank governor Lesetja Kganyago for a conference with investors on Tuesday and Wednesday. South Africa remains an “easy sell” for foreigners, he said.
The economic downturn has “bottomed out” and gross domestic product will expand this year, he said. – Bloomberg