Survé accuses Gordhan of 'smear campaign': Pravin says he's deflecting
- Minister Pravin Gordhan has clapped back at accusations levied against him by businessman Iqbal Survé
- Following a raid on his offices, Survé accused the Public Enterprises Minister of being behind the debacle
- Gordhan has retaliated, challenging Survé to bring evidence of his 'attempt to distract' forward at the PIC Inquiry, which has been probing his companies
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In response to the Financial Sector Conduct Authority raiding his Cape Town offices, Dr Iqbal Survé’s reaction was to accuse Pravin Gordhan of being behind things.
Briefly.co.za gathered that Survé had dubbed the Public Enterprises Minister as one of the 'dark forces' behind his problems
The businessman tried to blame being placed under scrutiny on a ‘cabal’, but the minister has accused him of trying to deflect attention in a bid to avoid being held accountable, reports The Citizen.
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In a statement, the FSCA had explained that the operation had been part of a probe into allegations of market manipulations and potential violations of the Financial Markets Act:
“The order for the search was granted by Justice Gamble of the Western Cape High Court on Tuesday, 8 October 2019. It allows the FSCA to conduct the search over two days under the supervision of an independent attorney.”
Survé had felt the raid had unfairly targeted him, and was a 'fishing expedition' and 'intimidation tactic', all part of an 'orchestrated campaign' against him.
However, Gordhan has responded to these allegations by accusing Survé of deflecting attention in a statement penned by his attorney, Tebogo Malatji, reports eNCA.
“Mr Survé has launched unsubstantiated attacks on our client without any evidence or facts. He also attacked the judiciary."
Malatji pointed out that Survé's companies have been in the spotlight at the PIC Inquiry:
“What the South African public knows is that Mr Survé and his business entities have been the subject of the Mpati Commission of Inquiry. The attempt at deflecting attention from this, by making false and defamatory allegations against Minister Gordhan and others, will not assist him and others in being held accountable for possible transgressions of the law."
Through his lawyers, Gordhan challenged Survé to bring any evidence of his 'deflection' attempt forward:
“The chief justice has invited those who make these kinds of allegations against judges to come forward with evidence to prove any impropriety on the part of judicial officers. Mr Survé is invited to produce proof of allegations he has made about the two judges, including that one refused to grant the FSCA a warrant and that another judge who granted the warrant did so because he has a relationship with our client.”
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Source: Briefly News
