It looks like Pravin Gordhan won’t have to answer questions about what he may know about the creation of a covert unit with the South African Revenue Service (SARS).

Disciplinary hearings against suspended deputy commissioner Ivan Pillay and head of strategic planning and risk Peter Richer will not go ahead following the resignations of the pair.

In a short statement on Thursday morning‚ SARS confirmed the resignations with "immediate effect".

"SARS acknowledges and appreciates the contribution of Pillay and Richer during their years of service in SARS and wishes them all the best in their future endeavours. All charges and related investigations have been withdrawn. SARS reserves all its rights‚" it said.

SARS said it accepted their resignations‚ and characterised the departures as "amicable".

Gordhan‚ the co-operative governance and traditional affairs minister‚ was among 30 people likely to be called to appear at the hearings‚ BD Live reported this week.

The covert unit‚ set up when Gordhan was commissioner‚ was found to be "unlawful" by an advisory board headed by Judge Frank Kroon‚ who had endorsed the findings of a panel headed by Muzi Sikhakhane‚ which was the basis for the suspension of Pillay and Richer.

He was set to face questions on whether the creation of the unit violated the National Strategic Intelligence Act; the finding by Judge Kroon that the budget of the unit amounted to irregular spending; and on Pillay’s employment on a contract basis.

Gordhan‚ apparently‚ was not interviewed by either the Sikhakhane panel or Kroon’s advisory board.

The disciplinary hearings against Pillay and Richer were to be chaired by former chief justice Sandile Ngcobo.

The news of the resignations and withdrawal of charges against them was greeted with scepticism on social media on Thursday morning‚ with some questioning whether Gordhan was being shielded.

Twitter user ‏@MGILIJACCC‚ who lists “#EFF driven policies” in his bio‚ posted: “@JacaNews #SARS The problem is that Pravin was going to be the witness in all this‚ so SARS can't compromise the Form[er]Finance Minister”‚ while ‏@lorrainemasipa said: “You don't just quit unless there is something you want to hide...BTW‚ this is after Pravin was called in.”

Radio 702’s Bruce Whitfield asked: “Richer and Pillay quit SARS. All charges and investigations are withdrawn. Either they did something wrong or they didn't? What gives?”

His colleague Stephen Grootes tweeted: “#SARS “Statement: SARS confirms the parting of ways was amicable. SG”‚ then added “but the kicker at the end: ‘SARS reserves its rights’.”

Beeld journalist Pauli Van Wyk was more direct when she posted: “Pillay and Richer has been offered a deal to go "quietly". #Sars would then drop all charges and disciplinary matters #rogueunit”.