By Amy Musgrave
Former Cabinet minister Pravin Gordhan has died, his family has announced.
Former Cabinet minister Pravin Gordhan has died, his family has announced.
Gordhan, 75, passed away peacefully in hospital surrounded by his family, closest friends and his lifelong comrades in the liberation struggle in the early hours of Friday morning.
He fought a short battle with cancer.
Gordhan was a committed political activist since his teenage years and held several Cabinet posts, including public enterprises minister (2018 to 2024), finance minister (2009 to 2014 and 2015 to 2017), and cooperative governance a traditional affairs minister (2014 to 2017).
He decided to retire from active politics after this year’s general election to spend time with his family.
Gordhan was a committed political activist since his teenage years and held several Cabinet posts, including public enterprises minister (2018 to 2024), finance minister (2009 to 2014 and 2015 to 2017), and cooperative governance a traditional affairs minister (2014 to 2017).
He decided to retire from active politics after this year’s general election to spend time with his family.
Gordhan, who had a distinguished career, was also the commissioner of the South African Revenue Service, where key played a pivotal role in starting the transformation of SARS into a world-class tax and customs administration.
“Throughout his career as a political activist, including the multiparty negotiations at CODESA from 1991, as a Member of Parliament from 1994, and later as a Member of the Executive from 2009, he remained committed to building and strengthening public institutions to support our Constitutional democracy. He did this with integrity,
fearless courage and resilience,” his family said in a statement.
“He understood that participation in government was not merely a technical or technocratic role. Rather, it was to advance the high public duty that the Constitution bestows on all of us: to uplift the poor, eliminate inequalities, fight racism, greed and corruption, and create a society where social justice and economic emancipation
occur within a far-reaching transformation of our society.”
Bidding farewell to those closest to him, Gordhan was emphatic: “I have no regrets, no regrets… We have made our contribution.”
He is survived by his wife Vanitha, and daughters Anisha and Priyesha.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said he was deeply saddened by the passing of Gordhan and offered his condolences his family.
“We have lost an outstanding leader whose unassuming persona belied the depth of intellect, integrity and energy with which he undertook his activism, his duty as a parliamentarian and his roles as a member of Cabinet,” the president said.
“In the latter years of his service to the nation, and as a beacon in our fight against corruption, Pravin Gordhan stood up to the derision and threats emanating from some in our nation who were scorched by his insistence that justice be dispensed against those who sough to undermine our democracy and raid our public resources
and assets.”
Details of his funeral arrangements will be announced by the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation.
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