PROTEST DEMONSTRATIONS IN SOLDIARITY WITH MINISTER PRAVIN GORDHAN TO BE HELD AT GUGU DLAMINI PARK (NEAR THE WORKSHOP COMPLEX) IN DURBAN ON WEDENSDAY BETWEEN 8AM AND 12 NOON

(SIMILAR DEMONSTRATIONS TO BE HELD IN PRETORIA AND OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY)

(Minister Pravin Gordhan with former judge, Thumba Pillay, at a function in Durban a few months ago) By Subry Govender

(ACTIVISTS OF THE ACTIVE CITIZENS MOVEMENT WHO HAVE ORGANISED THE PROTEST DEMONSTRATION IN SUPPORT OF MINISTER PRAVIN GORDHAN) Thousands of people, including hundreds of former political activists and struggle stalwarts, will gather at the Gugu Dlaimini Park, near the Workshop, in Durban on Wednesday, November 2 to lend their solidarity for Finance Minister, Pravin Gordhan. The event, organised by the Active Citizens Movement (ACM), will take place between 8am and 12 noon. Minister Gordhan has been asked to appear in the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court on charges of fraud and an alternative of theft. He is accused of approving the early retirement and subsequent re-employment of former South African Revenue Service (SARS) Deputy Commissioner, Ivan Pillay. He will appear in court along with Pillay and former SARS Commissioner, Oupa Magashula. The Durban solidarity gathering will be just one of several organised around the country. Similar protest demonstrations will be held in Pretoria, Johanesburg, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, East London, Bloemfontein and other parts of the country.

(Yousuf Vawda with colleagues of the Active Citizens Movement) Mr Yousuf Vawda, an official of the ACM, said the Durban solidarity gathering was aimed at demonstrating that most South Africans stood solidly for justice and equality before the law. “The event will go ahead, even if charges are withdrawn,” said Vawda. The charges against Minister Gordhan has drawn widespread debate with many people, especially former struggle activists and stalwarts, expressing their concerns about the current political implosion among members of the ruling elite. One hundred and one (101) former struggle stalwarts have said they are deeply concerned about the state of affairs in the ruling ANC and the country. They have submitted a memorandum to the ANC calling on the leaders to reclaim the public trust and to spend time on moral introspection. They said the charges against Minister Gordhan were without foundation and showed a misuse of stage agencies.

(Ahmed Kathrada)

(Andrew Mlangeni)

(Frene Ginwala)

(Frank Chikane)

(Popo Molefe)

(Trevor Manuel) Among those who signed the memorandum, include Ahmed Kathrada, Andrew Mlangeni, Frank Chikane, Popo Molefe, Trevor Manuel and Frene Ginwala.

(Prof Ben Turok) CURRENT STATUS QUO IS SINKING THE SHIP Meanwhile, another ANC Veteran, Professor Ben Turok, has called on President Jacob Zuma to step down for the sake of the party. He warned that if things don’t change in the ANC, the party would continue to lose support. “I would like to see President Zuma step down and for an interim president to be appointed,” he said. “Someone like former President, Kgalema Motlanthe, or Deputy President, Cyril Ramaphosa, could act in the interim position. The crisis is so deep that we need interim measures. “We must move away from the present status quo because the present status quo is sinking the ship.”

In addition to these stalwarts, others who have also expressed their concerns about the current state of affairs include former activist and leaders of the United Democratic Front (UDF), Professor Jerry Coovadia, Judge Thumba Pillay, former Constitutional Court Judge Zac Yacoob, Dr Farouk Meer and Paul Devadas David. Two organisations, the Helen Suzman Foundation and Freedom Under Law have challenged the NPA’s decision to charge Minister Gordhan without sufficient and without conducting the investigations properly. The Helen Suzman Foundation filed an affidavit in the Pretoria High Court on Wednesday (Oct 26 2016). – ends (subrygovender@gmail.com Oct 28 2016)