Pravin Gordhan. Picture: David Ritchie
Struggle stalwart and corruption fighter Pravin Jamnadas Gordhan is remembered as an outstanding leader and a person who did not hesitate to speak truth to power.
Gordhan, 75, a former minister and SA Revenue Services (Sars) commissioner, died in hospital on Friday after a short battle with cancer.
News of his illness had friends and supporters gathered around the country holding prayer vigils.
President Cyril Ramaphosa described Gordhan as an outstanding leader whose unassuming persona belied the depth of intellect, integrity and energy that characterised his activism, parliamentary duties and roles as a Cabinet member.
“Pravin Gordhan’s personal sacrifices, endeavours and achievements in various sectors of our society endowed him with the insights, empathy and resilience that fuelled his service to the nation,” said Ramaphosa.
“In the latter years, as a beacon of our fight against corruption, he stood up to derision and threats from some in our nation who were scorched by his insistence that justice be dispensed against those undermining our democracy and raiding our public resources and assets.”
Ramaphosa said Gordhan will be honoured with a special official funeral on Thursday.
PG, as he was fondly known, served as minister of finance from 2009 until 2014, and again from 2015 until 2017, minister of cooperative governance and traditional affairs from 2014 to 2015, and minister of public enterprises from February 2018 until his March 2024 retirement announcement.
He became the Sars commissioner in 1999, after a period as the deputy.
Gordhan was involved in the anti-apartheid struggle, initially as a student and then with civic movements in the 1970s and 1980s, before becoming an executive member of the Natal Indian Congress (NIC) and a military operative in the ANC’s armed wing.
Gordhan played a leading role in the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (Codesa) multi-party dialogue. He was later appointed as chairperson of the parliamentary Constitutional Review Committee.
He had graduated from the University of Durban-Westville with a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree and worked at the King Edward VIII Hospital in Durban from 1974 to 1981, but was dismissed in the early 1980s due to his activism, which resulted in his detention by the police and being slapped with banning orders.
Ashor Sarupen, deputy chairperson of the DA’s Federal Council, said Gordhan’s leadership as Sars commissioner transformed the revenue service into a world-class institution, and set a foundation for economic stability and social upliftment.
“As finance minister, he stood as a bulwark against corruption and state capture, navigated the country through economic storms and protected the Treasury,” said Sarupen.
The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation said Gordhan played a key role in the multiparty negotiations and the transition to democracy.
“Pravin was a leading light in the generation of activists that conceptualised and implemented ideas of community mass mobilisation and organisation, and served as the secretary of the Durban Housing Action Committee. The involvement of PG with other youngsters in the NIC transformed the organisation into a mass movement that challenged the apartheid regime’s co-option strategy during the 1980s.”
Gordhan joined the African National Congress in the 1970s.
“He will always be remembered for his firm stance against state capture that unfolded during the disastrous Jacob Zuma presidency. He was unstinting in disallowing the theft of public resources by individuals in high public office and their collaborators. We remember the poignant moment when Pravin was brought to tears for earning a standing ovation at the funeral of Ahmed Kathrada in 2017, when it had become clear that Zuma was about to dismiss him,” read the statement.
Former KZN MEC Ravi Pillay said they were fortunate to receive a message from Gordhan last Sunday, September 8, marking the 130th anniversary of the NIC.
He said Gordhan’s message was: “It is time for a reset! We must rework a progressive political culture and assert the Congress values of ethical leadership, non racialism, selfless service and economic justice.”
Pillay said: “Pravin Gordhan has become the personification of selfless service, great courage and an unshakeable political integrity. Not everyone liked him. But everyone respected him.
“His last message to us was once again providing leadership and direction, that all those who are progressive, must come together to build consensus around a common platform of progressive politics.
“Let us not betray his courage and sacrifice,” said Pillay.
The Active Citizens Movement said PG was a fighter against state capture and corruption who continuously challenged malfeasance, looting of Treasury and any form of irregularities in the public and private service.
Ashwin Trikamjee, president of the South African Hindu Maha Sabha, said Gordhan had a robust personality and a brilliant mind, and never hesitated to speak truth to power, without fear or favour.
“He will perhaps be best known for breaking ranks with life-long comrades and leading the struggle against corruption and state capture, while remaining committed to justice, righteousness and non-racism,” said Trikamjee.
Gordhan is survived by his wife, Vanitha Raju, daughters Anisha and Priyesha, brother Manecklal Gordhan and sister Shanta Harilal.
Sunday Tribune