The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has withdrawn the summons against Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and former South African Revenue Service (SARS) officials Oupa Magashula and Ivan Pillay. NPA head Shaun Abrahams said in a letter to Gordhan’s attorney on Monday that after “perusal” of the matter he had decided to “overrule the decision” to prosecute the minister. Abrahams said in the letter he had directed that the summons against Gordhan be withdrawn with “immediate effect”. Addressing the media on his decision to withdraw the charges, Abrahams said: “I am satisfied Mr Pillay, Mr Magashule and Minister Gordhan did not have the requisite intention to act unlawfully. I am of view that the matter could have been easily clarified…. In the circumstances I have decided to overrule the decision on prosecute.” He said it was not unusual for the national director of public prosecutions (NDPP) to make such a decision when representations to review such a decision were made. “This ser...
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