Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan declined on Thursday to say whether he was confident of the political support of the ruling ANC, less than a week before he must answer fraud charges in court. Gordhan said he had tried not to let the case distract him while preparing the medium-term budget policy statement presented to Parliament on Wednesday. Gordhan is accused of fraudulently approving, in a previous stint as head of the South African Revenue Service (SARS), early retirement for a deputy tax commissioner and re-hiring him as a consultant, costing the tax agency R1.1m. He has denied any wrongdoing, saying the case is politically motivated, a sentiment echoed by opposition parties, business leaders and some senior ANC figures. The state prosecutor has rejected allegations of political interference. Asked during a post-budget breakfast meeting whether he was still confident he had political backing, Gordhan said: "I’m not trying to duck, but I’m not going to answer it."
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