The ‘Sunday Independent’ quoted from the letter, saying Ntlemeza told Gordhan to respond by 4pm tomorrow.

JOHANNESBURG - Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan says he has not received any letter from Hawks head Berning Ntlemeza demanding that he respond to questions about a controversial South African Revenue Service (Sars) unit by 4pm tomorrow.

The_ Sunday Independent_ this morning quoted from the letter, saying Ntlemeza had told Gordhan on Friday that he had to set a deadline for him to respond to the 27 questions.

Gordhan has previously said the questions sent to him were an attempt to intimidate him ahead of his budget.

In his statement, Gordhan says he wants to know where this mysterious letter is and how one journalist appears to have it while he, as the person it is addressed to, does not.

He also says his lawyers had previously told Ntlemeza they could not meet any deadlines he'd set because he was out of the country on his investment roadshow.

Gordhan then claims that this letter may have been leaked and asks if it's a bid to intimidate and harass people as the old security police did.

This appears to be a hardline response from Gordhan as he believes Ntlemeza is not acting in good faith.

The so-called rogue unit is accused of having conducted illegal spying on tax payers and politicians.