President Jacob Zuma should appoint a judicial commission of inquiry to investigate the South African Revenue Service (Sars) wars, the Democratic Alliance said on Sunday.
“The ‘Mexican Standoff’ between the Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan, and President Jacob Zuma, together with their proxy forces, has now escalated into an all out internal civil war over the SARS,” claimed DA MP and finance spokesperson David Maynier said in a statement.
According to Fin24 sister website, City Press, the Hawks reportedly launched an investigation into allegations of corruption, fraud and the contravention of the Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Related Information Act (No. 70 of 2002).
“The Hawks are confident that they have a strong case against Gordhan and other former SA Revenue Service employees – and, despite yesterday’s denials, are pressing on with their investigation,” reported City Press.
The Hawks wants Godhan to respond by Wednesday March 2 2016 to twenty-seven questions relating to the “rogue” intelligence unit that allegedly operated at the Sars during his term as commissioner there.
Maynier said that Gordhan and Zuma, together with their proxy forces, appear to be locked in a fight to the death over SARS.
“The only option with any hope of avoiding mutually assured destruction and uncovering the truth is for a full judicial commission of inquiry to be established to investigate all allegations concerning the so-called SARS ‘rogue unit’.
“I will, therefore, be writing to President Jacob Zuma requesting him to appoint a judicial commission of inquiry, in terms of Section 84 of the Constitution, to investigate all the allegations surrounding the so-called SARS ‘rogue unit’.”