Tom Moyane Pravin Gordhan treason

PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA – DECEMBER 11: Former South African Revenue Service (Sars) commissioner Tom Moyane sits inside the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on December 11, 2018 in Pretoria, South Africa. The court in Pretoria dismissed Moyane’s application to have his axing as Sars commissioner overturned. (Photo by Gallo Images / Phill Magakoe)

Why Tom Moyane is pushing for treason charges against Pravin Gordhan

The stakes have shot-up at the state capture inquiry, as Tom Moyane outlines his case against Pravin Gordhan – which includes allegations of treason.

Tom Moyane Pravin Gordhan treason

PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA – DECEMBER 11: Former South African Revenue Service (Sars) commissioner Tom Moyane sits inside the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on December 11, 2018 in Pretoria, South Africa. The court in Pretoria dismissed Moyane’s application to have his axing as Sars commissioner overturned. (Photo by Gallo Images / Phill Magakoe)

This Tom Moyane and EFF collaboration isn’t going away any time soon. The former South African Revenue Service (Sars) commissioner and his advocate Dali Mpofu – a chairperson for the red berets – have made a stunning submission to the state capture inquiry, suggesting that Pravin Gordhan should face charges of treason.

The Zondo Commission returned on Wednesday morning, as it prepared to listen to Moyane’s reasons for why he should be allowed to cross-examine Gordhan. However, the public enterprises minister has dismissed the ex-tax chief’s application, saying that it’s a ploy to advance the EFF’s case against him.

Julius Malema’s band of merry men and women have accused him of all sorts over the years, culminating in claims that Pravin “hates black people” back in October. That utterance was dropped by Juju himself after Gordhan had appeared at the state capture inquiry.

Why Tom Moyane wants treason charges against Pravin Gordhan

However, of all the insults and abuse thrown towards the minister, treason is a relatively new one. It’s certainly the first time Moyane has gone public with the accusation, and he believes that Gordhan is responsible for betraying the country by “playing a role within the Sars rogue unit”.

The now-debunked narrative first surfaced a few years ago, accusing the likes of Gordhan and colleagues of running a unit in Sars parallel to the original organisation. During the Nugent Inquiry, it was ruled that the so-called rogue unit did not operate unlawfully.

However, this hasn’t stopped Tom Moyane and his counsel from pursuing these allegations. He and Mpofu have told the commission that this is the only way the disgraced former commissioner can clear his name. But Raymond Zondo fired back at these claims, telling Moyane “the commission is not here to rehabilitate your reputation”.

The gloves are off

In a statement previously submitted to the state capture inquiry, Gordhan detailed the personal vendetta Moyane seemed to strike up with him. He revealed that Jacob Zuma did nothing to help the situation, which involved Moyane refusing to take orders from his superior.

“Mr Moyane continued to make serious allegations against me and failed to accept that, in my role as minister of finance, he is accountable to me for the performance of Sars.”

“However, the former president [Jacob Zuma] did nothing to intervene and never tried to find a resolution in a formal or informal way. Our relationship festered for months, with Mr Moyane writing letters to the president about me.”

Pravin Gordhan

The debate continues with its to-and-fro approach throughout Wednesday, as Moyane’s lawyers take one last throw of the dice to bring Gordhan down along with their client. A decision on whether the former Sars commissioner can cross-examine his nemesis has been reserved for the time being.