Finance chief to be tried for fraud

South Africa’s Finance Minister, Pravin Gordhan, has received a summons to appear in court on charges of fraud. It relates to allegations of misconduct when he was in charge of the country’s tax collection service a decade ago. Mr Gordhan has said the allegations are wholly unfounded and are politically motivated. The summons requires him […]

South Africa’s Finance Minister, Pravin Gordhan, has received a summons to appear in court on charges of fraud.
It relates to allegations of misconduct when he was in charge of the country’s tax collection service a decade ago. Mr Gordhan has said the allegations are wholly unfounded and are politically motivated.
The summons requires him to appear in court on 2 November, which is after his budget policy statement due later this month.
The fraud charges relate to alleged severance payments made to two senior executives at the South African Revenue Service (SARS), when it was under Mr Gordhan’s leadership 10 years ago.
Prosecutor Shaun Abrahams also told a news conference that Mr Gordhan was being investigated for his role in setting up a surveillance unit at the tax department around the same time.