BREAKING: Gordhan responds to Hawks questions

30 March 2016

Cape Town – Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan has answered the Hawks questions regarding the alleged SA Revenue Services (Sars) “rogue” unit on Wednesday, stating that the unit acted lawfully as far as he is aware.

“I am advised that the Sikhakhane Panel finding that the establishment of the Unit contravened the National Strategic Intelligence Act was wrong and based on a superficial and clearly mistaken reading of the aforementioned Act,” he said.

“The unit was an essential part of Sars’ enforcement strategy as it is with most tax and customs administrations globally.

“As far as I was aware, the unit lawfully performed its functions.

“As far as I was aware, the funding of the unit was done through normal budgetary processes applicable to Sars.

“The unit did not initially have a name but was later successively known as the Special Projects Unit, the National Research Group and the High-Risk Investigations Unit,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.

“I participated in the decision to establish the Unit in February 2007.”

This article first appeared on Fin24, see here.