The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation has hailed former public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan as a champion against corruption, who endured massive push-back against the campaign to clean governance and anti-corruption drive.
At a candlelight vigil for Gordhan held at the Flame of Democracy at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg on Wednesday night, Neeshan Balton, executive director of Ahmed Kathrada Foundation heaped praises on Gordhan, wishing him well as he is admitted in hospital.
“Pravin Gordhan has been admitted in hospital, and many of the people here requested a space to be convened where they could gather and pay tribute to him, and also send well wishes to his family and to himself as he battles whatever he is dealing with, which resulted in him being hospitalised,” Balton spoke to broadcaster Newzroom Afrika.
He said there is no updates on Gordhan’s health, after the Gordhan family announced on Tuesday that the 75-year-old retired politician had been admitted to hospital.
Balton said Gordhan’s tenure in government was an epitome of excellence.
“I think that all that he had to endure, to clean up government is something that still has to be written about in much more detail. The victimisation that he went through as Sars, the allegations of the rogue unit which will continue, for as long as they were dispelled and disproved, they continued and found their way to the former public protector (Busisiwe Mkhwebane) really carrying out almost seemingly a vendetta against minister Gordhan,” he said.
“Endlessly, the persecution that he had to endure by her (former public protector) and the former president (Jacob Zuma), I think very few would have withstood that. He withstood it, he went back into government. When he took over Sars, it was to try and transform it, but as minister of finance I think he steadied our finance considerably.”
In Gordhan’s last stint as public enterprises minister, Balton said the former minister achieved quite a number of successes in stabilising State-owned entities which had been decimated by State capture.
“Overall, he is the epitome of integrity. I would want Pravin to be understood by the South African public at large,” said Balton.
On Tuesday, the Gordhan family said the former minister was receiving the best available care in hospital.
“Mr Gordhan is receiving the best available medical care. The family has requested privacy during this difficult time. Further updates on his condition will be provided,” the family statement read.
Family spokesperson, Adrian Lackay, told IOL that there were no further updates available on Gordhan’s health or why he was taken to hospital.
It is believed that Gordhan had been sick for a while. Last month, he was advised by a medical doctor to refrain from travelling. This caused him to miss a Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises meeting.
Gordhan retired from active politics following the May 29 elections this year.
IOL