Former minister Pravin Gordhan has died.
His family announced on Friday morning that he had passed away peacefully in hospital surrounded by his family, closest friends and his lifelong comrades in the liberation struggle in the early hours of Friday morning.
The May 29 general elections marked the end of an era for Gordhan, who retired at 74.
He was a prominent figure in SA’s politics, known for his unwavering commitment to integrity and public service. Born on April 12 1949 in Durban, Gordhan's journey from a pharmacist to a key political leader inspired many.
“Throughout his career as a political activist — including the multiparty negotiations at Codesa from 1991, as a MP from 1994, and later as a member of the executive from 2009 — he remained committed to building and strengthening public institutions to support our constitutional democracy. He did this with integrity, fearless courage and resilience,” Gordhan’s family said in a statement on Friday morning.
Gordhan’s political career took off during the anti-apartheid struggle, where he played an important role in the underground resistance.
His dedication to justice and equality saw him rise through the ranks of ANC, eventually becoming the head of the SA Revenue Service (Sars) in 1999. Under his leadership, Sars transformed into a world-class and respected tax collection institution, significantly improving tax compliance and revenue collection.
In 2009, Gordhan was appointed finance minister, a position some would say he held with discipline amid political pressure to hand control of the National Treasury to the Gupta family, which had become a critical battleground in the broader state capture saga.
He faced multiple legal challenges, including fraud and corruption, which were later withdrawn due to lack of evidence. He was accused of overseeing a so-called “rogue unit” within Sars, as part of a politically motivated plot to discredit him and undermine him as finance minister.
In an interview with Business Day in March 2024, Gordhan expressed his desire to prioritise his family and health, stating that he would no longer be available to serve in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s cabinet.
“I feel it is time to focus on my family and health. It is an end of 50 years of activism, but I will always remain an activist. It has been a great privilege to serve in various capacities and hopefully I can contribute by teaching what I know to new and younger generations,” Gordhan said at the time of his retirement.
But his family did not get that time.
After his retirement, Gordhan fought a short, courageous battle with cancer.
“Bidding those closest to him farewell, Minister Gordhan was emphatic: “I have no regrets, no regrets.... We have made our contribution.”
Gordhan is survived by his wife and two daughters.
Ramaphosa sent his condolences to Gordhan’s family.
“During his decades of revolutionary dedication to making SA a better place, Pravin Gordhan and his family were deprived of much needed and deserved time together,” Ramaphosa said in a statement.
“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,” Ramaphosa said.
DA leader John Steenhuisen thanked Gordhan for his “bravery” and contribution.
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