Gordhan on 'arrest' threat: 'This isn't a big thing'

Finance minister Pravin Gordhan has come out guns blazing, in defiance of those who wish to see him gone.

"I've been asked (by the president) to do a job, so let me do that job," he told the Financial Mail in an exclusive interview this week. 

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His on-and-off war with the SA Police's Hawks unit has been described by some as a clumsy attempt at intimidation tactics and a proxy war between the minister and President Jacob Zuma. Gordhan however said being arrested in connection with the SA Revenue Service "rogue unit" would not be a big deal as he has been through tougher times as a political activist.

"When you're picked up at 4am, hands cuffed behind your back and told to pack some clothes, in a country where you have no rights, that's difficult. I've had handcuffs on my wrists many times, so this isn't a big thing," said Gordhan.

Gordhan received "credible information" that he could be arrested just as he was about to fly to Rwanda for the World Economic Forum two weeks ago. Then with that threat hanging over him, he was immediately pressed into meetings with Standard & Poor's and Fitch to convince them not to downgrade SA’s credit rating to junk status.

A team from S&P met officials last week before their review due to be published on June 3, which could see the country's debt rating cut to junk.

Read the full exclusive interview with Gordhan here.