JOHANNESBURG, (Reuters) – South Africa’s finance minister, ending a month-long standoff, has answered police questions about a spy unit formed by its tax collection agency, the latest chapter in what is seen as a proxy war between President Jacob Zuma and his detractors.
Pravin Gordhan’s remarks on the spy unit, set up in 2007 when he ran the agency, was the latest chapter in a public spat between the Treasury and the police that escalated after Zuma’s chaotic shuffling of finance ministers in December.
Zuma sacked Nhlanhla Nene as finance minister at that time and replaced him with an unknown backbencher. That sparked a sharp sell-off of South African assets and Zuma rescinded his move three days later and installed Gordhan.
