ANC Backing: South Africa’s Under-fire Finance Minister Declines To Comment

South African, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan declined on Thursday to say whether he was confident of the ruling party’s support, less than a week before he appears in court to answer fraud charges in a saga that has rocked the government.

Speaking a day after presenting his mid-term budget to parliament, Gordhan said he had tried not to let his Nov. 2 court case distract him while outlining measures to help kick-start an economy that he forecast would barely grow this year.

Gordhan is accused of fraudulently approving, in a previous post as head of the revenue service, early retirement for a deputy tax commissioner and re-hiring him as a consultant, costing the tax agency 1.1 million rand ($79,000).

He has denied any wrongdoing, saying the case is politically motivated, a sentiment echoed by opposition parties, business leaders and some senior African National Congress (ANC) party 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.”

The ructions in government have weakened the rand and bonds in an economy struggling to create jobs. Some analysts say President Jacob Zuma’s allies are driving the investigation in a bid to oust Gordhan, something the president denied.

“He (Gordhan) is well aware that while he does have some support inside the ANC, the faction that’s supporting him is not winning,” NKC Africa Economics analyst Gary van Staden said.

“If you’re asked if you have support and you say I’m not answering that question, obviously he thinks he doesn’t.”