Gordhan to critics on termination of SAA-Takatso deal: ‘I don’t give in to political pressure’

CAPE TOWN - Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan has denied that he pulled the plug on the South African Airways (SAA) private equity deal because of political pressure from within the African National Congress (ANC).

Announcing the end of more than three years of negotiations with the Takatso Consortium, following a Cabinet meeting at Parliament on Wednesday, Gordhan said the talks were no longer yielding a fair deal for the public asset.

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However, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said Gordhan couldn't just walk into retirement without being held accountable for entering a dud deal.

Gordhan said he would not allow his name to be sullied by claims that he acted in a corrupt manner when he chose the Takatso Consortium as the preferred equity partner for SAA.

“If you find me having stolen one cent of public money, then you got something on your side that I don’t have.”

He also denied nixing the deal because some within the ANC were opposed to a majority share of the airline being sold.

“I don’t give in to political pressure of the kind the question is raising. Professionally, we came to the point where we say, maybe this is not the best route for SAA to be taken through.”

But the DA’s Alf Lees suggested that Gordhan table the termination documents and be held accountable for failing to exercise due diligence before entering into negotiations with Takatso.