President Ramaphosa mourns the passing of Pravin Gordhan

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed deep sadness at the passing of former Minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan, who passed away at the age of 75 after a period of illness.

In a heartfelt statement, President Ramaphosa extended his condolences to Gordhan’s wife, Vanitha Raju, and daughters Anisha and Priyesha.

The president also remembered his surviving siblings, brother Manecklal Gordhan and sister Shanta Harilal, during this difficult time. He noted, “We carry his family in our thoughts and prayers at this time.”

Gordhan family spokesperson Adrian Lackay said Gordhan died at hospital surrounded by family, friends and comrades on Friday.

A press release by the family said: “Mr Gordhan passed away peacefully in hospital surrounded by his family, closest friends and his lifelong Comrades in the liberation struggle.”

After his retirement, Gordhan fought a short, courageous battle with cancer.

Gordhan, a veteran activist and distinguished public servant, dedicated much of his life to the betterment of South Africa. His political and professional career was marked by significant contributions to the country’s governance, starting from his involvement in the anti-apartheid struggle.

Also read: BREAKING | Former minister Pravin Gordhan dies at 75

He was also a prominent figure in student and civic movements during the 1970s and ‘80s and served as an executive member of the Natal Indian Congress and as a military operative for the ANC.

In government, Gordhan held several key positions. He was appointed as Commissioner of the SARS in 1999, later serving as Minister of Finance from 2009 to 2014 and again from 2015 to 2017.

His time as Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs from 2014 to 2015 was followed by his role as Minister of Public Enterprises from 2018 until his retirement in 2024.

Reflecting on Gordhan’s contributions, Ramaphosa said, “Pravin Gordhan’s personal sacrifices and his endeavours and achievements in various sectors of our society endowed him with the insights, empathy, and resilience that fuelled his service to the nation.”

The president further highlighted Gordhan’s unwavering commitment to fighting corruption, particularly in his latter years. “As a beacon of our fight against corruption, Pravin Gordhan stood up to derision and threats emanating from some in our nation who were scorched by his insistence that justice be dispensed against those who sought to undermine our democracy and raid our public resources,” Ramaphosa said.

Gordhan’s legacy is deeply intertwined with South Africa’s transition to democracy.

He played a critical role in the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA) and later chaired the Parliamentary Constitutional Committee, helping shape the democratic foundations of the country.

The president praised his intellect, integrity, and energy, saying, “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.”

Ramaphosa noted that Gordhan’s life of sacrifice came at a personal cost to his family.

“During his decades of revolutionary dedication to making South Africa a better place, Pravin Gordhan and his family were deprived of much needed and deserved time together,” Ramaphosa remarked, adding that the country remains “grateful for his life of sacrifice and service.”