Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has offered his moral and political support to Finance

Minister Pravin Gordhan in view of the legal processes unfolding around him and as he
prepares to deliver the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement on Wednesday, 26 October
2016.

Events of the past few days regarding summonses served on Finance Minister Pravin
Gordhan have been of concern to many South Africans across all sectors of society, said
Deputy President Ramaphosa.

As a member of the National Executive, I lend my support to Minister Gordhan as he faces

charges brought against him by the National Prosecuting Authority. I have known and worked
with Minister Gordhan both in government and during the days of the prosecution of the
struggle for a non-racial, non-sexist democratic society.

I have no doubt about his commitment in building a better South Africa for all. Like of all
South Africans, Minister Gordhan remains subject to the laws of the country, and retains his
right to remain silent, to be free from abuse of process, and to a legal defence.

I am fully cognisant of the role that the NPA has to play in building a democratic society. In
this regard, we respect the constitutional mandate that the NPA has to discharge without fear,
favour or prejudice.
This mandate has to be balanced against the constitutional rights of all individuals,
including the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.

The situation requires of all South Africans to demonstrate unity in defence of constitutional
values, the integrity of our legal system and the objective of setting South Africa on a path of
sustainable and inclusive economic growth that will help us overcome poverty,
unemployment and inequality.

In this regard and whatever the legal challenges that Minister Gordhan may face, we must
not undermine the work that the government jointly with leaders of business and labour have
been doing to stimulate domestic and international investment in our economy and have
yielded impressive outcomes across a range of industrial sectors.

Accordingly we must conduct ourselves in ways that will uphold our constitutional values
and maintain South Africas good reputation internationally. The forthcoming Medium Term
Budget Policy Statement later this month is an important opportunity for us to assess
economic conditions in the country and to reassure the investor community that South Africa
remains a preferred destination for investments.

I therefore wish Minister Gordhan well as he prepares to deliver the Medium Term Budget
Policy Statement and hope that this challenge will not distract him from focusing on this
important national task.
"Government is at one in its approach on this matter and calls upon all South Africans to
approach these issues rationally and put the interests of the country first, concluded Deputy
President Ramaphosa.