Die NG Kerk het mnr Pravin Gordhan, die beleërde minister van finansies van sy steun verseker.

Dit kom nadat Gordhan in ‘n verklaring gesê het hoe moeilik dit vir hom en sy familie is dat daar selfs sprake is dat hy in hegtenis geneem sou word. Dié moontlikheid van Gordhan se inhegtenisname word wyd beskou as ‘n teken van die politieke spanning tussen Gordhan en pres Jacob Zuma eerder as dat Gordhan inderdaad aan die een of ander misdaad skuldig is.

Die volledige brief van ds Nelis Janse van Rensburg, voorsitter van die Algemene Sinodale Moderamen, aan Gordhan, lui:

Dear Mr Gordhan

We, as members of the Dutch Reformed Church, are aware of the immense pressure which you currently experience as a result of efforts to abuse state funds. We are also aware of your courageous resistance to the malicious intent of people who want to lay their hands on the property of the state. We know that the strategies of these people and forces have neither respect for the truth, nor for the dignity of those who stand in their way. We hereby want to confirm our respect for your value-driven leadership and responsible patronage with regards to the assets of our state. You, with many other leaders and officials with integrity, are carrying the hope of the nation on your shoulders. We understand that the weight of this responsibility can become too heavy.

We know that our local economy is exposed to global economic currents and that you cannot control the impact of it all. We nevertheless expect responsible fiscal policy and the discipline of government and government officials to implement these policies. We expect leaders to act and govern with integrity. We expect leaders to implement policies to create a society in which the human dignity of every person is respected, a country with freedom of expression and freedom from coercion and exploitation. We also dream of a society where justice for all will be the most basic underlying intent in all our state’s policies and decisions. Our constitution is very clear and explicit on all these matters. We applaud your efforts to honor our constitution and to implement the policies that embrace and uphold the values that we agreed upon.

We heard your call for support from civil society. We hereby pledge our support, to you personally, and to all your brave efforts to lead with integrity. We pray that God will grant you wisdom, courage and the necessary determination to continue on the road of character and dignity. We also pray for your loved ones who have to bear with you the pressure of your obligations and responsibilities. We, the Dutch Reformed Church, are bowing in prayer next to you and believe that justice will eventually prevail and that those who followed in the steps of righteousness will eventually be revealed as the agents of God.

With appreciation and kind regards

NELIS JANSE VAN RENSBURG
CHAIRPERSON OF THE EXECUTIVE