Civil organisations show support as SARS officials arrive at Hawks offices

Various organisations have gathered outside the Hawks headquarters in Pretoria this morning, in solidarity with Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and two former SA Revenue Service officials who were ordered to present themselves to the crime fighting unit today. 

This is in connection with an investigation into the so-called "rogue" unit within the South African Revenue Services.

Gordhan said last night he will not present himself to the Hawks - asking that he be allowed to do his job. 

Meanwhile, former Constitutional Court Judge Johann Kriegler says he believes he speaks on behalf of all fair-minded South Africans.

"Irrespective of political persuasion, in showing our support for the Minister of Finance and his former colleagues at SARS and our outrage at this attack at them. Not only are the charges baseless but the manner in which they have been perused is clearly calculated to ruin the names of the individuals and has predictably already seriously impacted our national economy. Those behind this campaign must have known this from the outset," he said. 

Members of the civil organisations, Section 27 as well as Corruption Watch arrived at the Hawks headquarters earlier, to support the SARS officials.