JOHANNESBURG,– Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan says he hopes to give South Africans an assurance that the State’s finances are in good hands when he presents his medium-term budget speech to Parliament next week.

This is seen as the latest indication from Gordhan that he expects to remain in his post, despite a fraud charge brought against him by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

The NPA charged Gordhan and two former South African Revenue Service (SARS) officials of fraud for their involvement in the payment of an early retirement package to one of the officials, former Deputy SARS Commissioner Ivan Pillay.

Addressing the National Religious Association for Social Development in Kempton Park here Thursday, Gordhan said the fiscal framework which he would present to Parliament next Wednesday would show that the National Treasury wants to manage the country’s finances well.

“We have a very constrained fiscal environment in which we will manage our State affairs and at the same time ensure that we emerge with a fiscal framework next Wednesday which shows that we want to manage our finances well. And what we can tell South African is that your finances, as far as Treasury is concerned, are in excellent hands.”

Source: Nam News Network