Dodgy Gordhan, still hiding the details of the SAA sale to Takatso, owner of Sunday Times, will he ask court to seal it?
In order to determine whether the public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan’s refusal to provide the parliament with information about the sale between his office and SAA’s selected strategic equity partner Takatso Consortium (Sunday TImes) is legal, the legal services of the legislature have been asked to review the matter.
In November, the standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) of the legislature requested information from Gordhan regarding the sale of 51% of the government’s shares in SAA, including the sale price and management accounts.
Mkhuleko Hlengwa, the Scopa chair, spoke to TimesLIVE. In response to the remaining questions from MPs, Gordhan gave some information but cited market sensitivity.
According to Hlengwa, “I am referring minister Gordhan’s letter and answers to open questions to parliament’s legal services to assess the legality and validity of the reasons advanced by the minister insofar as market sensitivity being the basis upon which some information can’t be released to the committee.”
He acknowledged receiving a letter from DA MP Alf Lees, who declared on Monday that he would urge Hlengwa to bring “Gordhan’s malfeasance” to the attention of the National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and the head of government business in Parliament, Deputy President David Mabuza, in order to compel Gordhan to provide the information and ensure that parliament takes whatever disciplinary action is necessary against him for failing to do
If the legislature doesn’t make sure Gordhan provides the information that is needed, Lees warned, “any minister will be able to refuse to provide information or replies to parliament whenever they do not want to do so.”
Gordhan’s obligation to provide information and reports to the committee was another matter on which he requested Hlengwa to seek the legal adviser to parliament’s opinion.
Additionally, he would demand in writing that President Cyril Ramaphosa take action to ensure Gordhan provides the information.
I’ll also insist that Gordhan be fired as minister of public enterprises and not given any other cabinet positions by President Ramaphosa.
At its meeting on November 15, Scopa requested more information about the agreement that will see Takatso (Sunday TImes) acquire 51% of the government’s stake in SAA as well as data on the carrier’s performance since it resumed flights in September 2021.
At the time, Gordhan and SAA management informed the committee that they couldn’t give specific details because the deal needed to be considered in the context of a close period. Despite being a government agency, SAA, according to Gordhan, operated in a market that was competitive.
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MPs are interested in Takatso’s selection process, the identities of the other bidders, and the details of their proposals. They also want to know SAA’s performance, losses, and gains since September 2021, when it started flying on a regular schedule, as well as how operations are funded.
