IN reaction to ongoing speculation about a standoff between President Jacob Zuma and Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, the Presidency issued a statement yesterday saying issues were being addressed amicably.
The statement also made it clear that the president was not empowered to dismiss SARS commissioner Tom Moyane or interfere with the work of government agencies.
This was a reference to reports that Gordhan has an uneasy relationship with Moyane that is causing friction.
In the statement, the Presidency appealed to “interested parties” to respect institutions and processes in terms of the constitution and the law.
“Media reports demanding that the president should summarily dismiss the SARS commissioner or interfere with the work of government agencies are unhelpful,” the Presidency said.
“There are prescripts within government which stipulate the processes to be utilised to resolve labour relations issues or disputes . . .
“The difficulty in the relationship between the minister of finance and the SARS commissioner is being dealt with through the correct channels using the correct legal prescripts.”
Discussions on these issues had begun before the budget, and now “measures are being put in place to address the issues responsibly and amicably‚ for the benefit of all”.
The statement urged calm to allow space for the matters to be resolved using the correct channels.
It said the media had “incorrectly reported” that there was a war at SARS and that Zuma and Gordhan were also “somehow at war”.
“This is a total fabrication and mischievous sensationalism.”
The statement also referred to reports insinuating Gordhan’s position could be in jeopardy.
It said the president wished to emphasise that Gordhan remained in his position and any report that he was under threat of losing the job “is dismissed with the contempt it deserves”.
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