Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane says she is disappointed at the ‘personal insults’ by Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan in court documents challenging her report into the so-called SARS ‘rogue unit’. ‘It is our considered opinion that the emotive language and personal insults and blatant lies or innuendos are meant to divert attention from the real issues and the findings,’ Mkhwebane said in a statement yesterday, according to TimesLIVE. Her spokesperson Oupa Segalwe added: ‘Mkhwebane wishes to record her disappointment at how the court application is cloaked in the indignity of personal insults. She will only be commenting on the facts of the matter as engaging in the personal insults is below the dignity of the high offices of responsibility which she and the Minister occupy.’ Among other things Gordhan’s lawyer Tebogo Malatji said in a statement that Mkhwebane had misunderstood the law to arrive at a pre-determined outcome. Malatji said the report also ignored facts to reach its findings about the unit. ‘Among these are the discredited Sikhakhane Panel report and its erroneous legal reasoning, the Sunday Times’ apology in April 2016 for its reporting relating to the SARS unit, Judge Kroon’s apology to the members of the unit for not interrogating the issues and making wrong findings, KPMG’s withdrawal of its report and refunding of the fees earned for it.’ Mkhwebane also said yesterday: ‘Although the matter is reported to be brought on an urgent basis, as at noon today (Thursday), the Public Protector is still not formally served with court papers. She will, however, be defending the matter as she has full confidence in the veracity of her findings.’