Moyane’s lawyer, Advocate Dali Mpofu, presented a transcript of a conversation at the state capture commission that he said proved that the minister was arrogant and racist.
Former South African Revenue Service (Sars) Commissioner Tom Moyane consults with his lawyer before he starts cross-examining Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan at the state capture inquiry in Johannesburg on 30 November 2020. Picture: Xanderleigh Dookey/EWN
JOHANNESBURG – Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan on Monday said he had no first-hand proof that former South African Revenue Service (Sars) boss Tom Moyane worked with or conspired with the Hawks and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) even though he said this in a recorded telephone conversation.
Moyane’s lawyer, Advocate Dali Mpofu, presented a transcript of a conversation at the state capture commission that he said proved that Gordhan was arrogant and racist.
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Gordhan conceded that his belief that Moyane advanced state capture was based on people who witnessed the meetings that Moyane attended.
Mpofu and Gordhan agreed that accusing people of state capture without proof was arrogance. And he went on to ask the minister about claims he made that Moyane worked or conspired with law enforcement agencies.
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“The question is whether you have evidence to back up the statement you made that Mr Moyane was conspiring with the Hawks and NPA every other day?” Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo asked.
“Obviously not, it was a manner of speaking,” Gordhan said in response.
Mpofu then said: “I know that you say there was a conspiracy… that accusation it’s one of your wild accusations. You don’t have evidence.”
Gordhan accused Mpofu of not accepting that in that recorded telephone conversation Moyane never admitted that he was wrong.
Mpofu said that if Moyane spoke ill of a judge he was wrong, but that did not justify or excuse Gordhan’s alleged racism.
WATCH: State capture inquiry cross-examination of Minister Pravin Gordhan by Tom Moyane
