By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Pravin Jamnadas Gordhan, a long-time member of the African National Congress (ANC) party, former finance minister and SARS commissioner has died at the age of 75 on Friday.
According to a statement from his family, Gordhan “passed away peacefully in hospital surrounded by his family, closest friends and his lifelong comrades in the liberation struggle”.
The statement added that Gordhan’s message to friends and family was that he had “no regrets, no regrets…We have made our contribution”.
He is survived by his wife Vanitha, and his daughters, Anisha and Priyesha.
Gordhan was admitted to the Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre in Johannesburg on Tuesday after a recent cancer diagnosis.
Born on April 12, 1949, Gordhan completed a DTech degree in Business Administration at the Free State Central University of Technology in 2009.
He received an Honorary Doctorate of Commerce from the University of South Africa and an Honorary Doctorate of Law from UCT in 2007.
A political activist from his teenage years, Gordhan joined the struggle against the racist and oppressive system of apartheid and joined the ANC’s underground structures in the 1980s.
He was one of the negotiators for the country’s peaceful transition to a constitutional democracy and became a member of parliament in 1994 after Nelson Mandela became the country’s first democratically elected president.
His last position in government was as the minister of public enterprises from 2018 to 2024 in charge of state-owned enterprises. He served two terms as finance minister from 2009 to 2014 and again from 2015 to 2017.
From 1999 to 2009, Gordhan was the head of the South Africa Revenue Services, which he was credited with transforming into a world-class tax and customs service.
Gordhan was an outspoken critic of corruption in government and state-owned enterprises, and was one of the ministers who criticized the leadership of former President Jacob Zuma while he was still serving in his Cabinet.
Tributes have been pouring in for struggle stalwart, Gordhan.
President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed his condolences to the Gordhan family; Gordhan’s wife Vanitha Raju daughters Anisha and Priyesha, as well as the former Minister’s older brother, Manecklal Gordhan, and sister Shanta Harilal.
“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. 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.
“As we mourn his passing, we remain grateful for his life of sacrifice and service and his sustained striving for the realisation of the vision and dictates of our Constitution. We carry his family in our thoughts and prayers at this time,” Ramaphosa said.
“During his tenure as Minister of Finance, Gordhan was known for his firm stance on fiscal discipline and his fight against corruption, notably standing against the forces of state capture. His leadership at Sars helped strengthen tax collection and improve the country’s revenue base. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends during this difficult time,” added ActionSA’s Herman Mashaba.
“On behalf of ANC Veterans League, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and the Movement of our dear comrade and veteran Pravin Gordhan, PG. He has served his country with dedication and distinction. May his atma attain moksha,” said Ilva Mackay Langa of the ANC Veterans League.