Former finance minister Pravin Gordhan has died
Pravin Gordhan, South Africa’s former minister of public enterprises, died in hospital in the early hours of Friday morning.
Ex-finance minister Pravin Gordhan has passed away.
This was confirmed by his family in an early Friday morning statement.
“Mr Gordhan passed away peacefully in hospital surrounded by his family, closest friends and his lifelong comrades in the liberation struggles,” the statement read in part.
Pravin Gordhan: Death after battle with cancer
The former struggle stalwart died after a “short, courageous battle with cancer”, his family said.
Gordhan, born on 12 April 1949, is survived by his wife Vanitha and his daughters, Anisha and Priyesha.
Gordhan’s death comes after he was admitted to hospital on Tuesday evening. And on Thursday, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula – after visiting Gordhan in hospital – revealed that the former minister was in a “critical condition“.
VIGIL FOR PRAVIN GORDHAN
Following Gordhan’s hospitalisation, the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, Johannesburg Against Justice and Defend Our Democracy held a candlelight vigil to pray for a speedy recovery in Constitution Hill.
FORMER MINISTER RETIRES
Gordhan, 75, announced in March 2024 that he would not be returning to the seventh administration after the 29 May elections, saying he wanted to focus on his health and family.
Gordhan served in various roles in government, first coming to prominence when he was appointed commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (SARS) in 1999.
He served in that capacity until 2009, when he was appointed minister of finance by then-president Jacob Zuma.
Gordhan’s other ministerial roles:
- Finance Minister (2009 – 2014) and (2015 – 2017)
- Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (2014 – 2015)
- Minister of Public Enterprises (2018 – May 2024)
Before his stint at Public Enterprises, Gordhan was regularly hailed as having prevented a lot State Capture machinations at Treasury while he was finance minister.
He was also lauded for standing up to Zuma and resisting pressure from the Gupta family, when they tried (and eventually succeeded) in subverting multiple state-owned agencies.