Pravin Gordhan. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
Former public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan, one of many key figures within the fightback in opposition to state seize, has died on the age of 75.
Gordhan handed away in hospital within the early hours of Friday morning after being admitted earlier this week for therapy for most cancers, his household mentioned in an announcement.
The household mentioned Gordhan “handed away peacefully in hospital surrounded by his household, his closest pals and his lifelong comrades within the liberation wrestle” after a “brief, brave battle with most cancers”.
Gordhan retired after the Might elections, having served in various cupboard portfolios since 2009 — together with finance, native authorities and public enterprises — and in addition served because the commissioner of the South African Income Service (Sars) for a decade.
“All through this profession as a political activist … he remained dedicated to constructing and strengthening public establishments to help our constitutional democracy. He did this with integrity, fearless braveness and resilience,” the household assertion mentioned.
“He understood that participation in authorities was not merely a technical or technocratic function. Fairly it was to advance the excessive public obligation that the structure bestows on all of us: to uplift the poor, get rid of inequalities, battle racism, greed and corruption.”
Godhan was a lifelong political activist who performed a key function within the United Democratic Entrance (UDF) within the Eighties and within the ANC’s underground buildings, and was detained when it comes to the apartheid-era Inner Safety Act on various events.
Popularly generally known as “PG”, Gordhan was a talented technocrat and on the identical time a nuanced political operator who was chargeable for the creation of a community of civic organisations beneath the UDF’s umbrella.
He was a part of the ANC’s negotiating workforce in the course of the transition to democracy and served as one of many occasion’s MPs within the first post-apartheid parliament which sat from 1994.
Gordhan was appointed as finance minister in 2009 by then president Jacob Zuma, however went on to turn into certainly one of his fiercest critics, main the fightback in opposition to state seize from inside the ANC.
He performed a key function in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s first administration, however opted to retire from politics after the final elections.
“We’ve misplaced an impressive chief whose unassuming persona belied the depth of mind, integrity and vitality with which he undertook his activism, his obligation as a parliamentarian and his roles as a member of cupboard,” Ramaphosa mentioned in an announcement.
“Pravin Gordhan’s private sacrifices and his endeavours and achievements in varied sectors of our society endowed him with the insights, empathy and resilience that fuelled his service to the nation.”
Gordhan is survived by his spouse Vanitha and daughters Anisha and Priyesha.