PRETORIA – The North Gauteng High Court dismissed Pravin Gordhan’s application for a declaratory order that the Finance Minister could not get involved in Gupta bank fight.

Deputy Judge President Aubrey Ledwaba made the ruling on Friday. 

Gordhan turned to the court for a declaratory order confirming that he could not intervene in a dispute between Oakbay Investments and four banks. 

Oakbay had asked the former finance minister for assistance after the banks closed all accounts related to Gupta-owned companies. 

The advocate for the Gupta’s Sahara Computers company previously argued the minister did not go to court to seek legal clarity about whether or not he could intervene in the family’s fight with South Africa’s banks.

Their lawyers suggested Gordhan went to court to air the Gupta companies’ dirty laundry, and protect South Africa’s banks from scrutiny.

eNCA