South Africa is mourning the loss of its former Finance Minister, Pravin Gordhan, who passed away at the age of 75. His family confirmed in a statement that he died early on Friday morning following "a short, courageous battle with cancer."
The statement added that he was "surrounded by his family, closest friends, and his lifelong comrades in the liberation struggle when he passed away in the early hours this morning."
"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," said the country's president, Ramaphosa.
Gordhan's long career in public service began when he was appointed as Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service in 1999, following his tenure as Deputy Commissioner. His legacy, however, extends far beyond his time in office. A committed anti-apartheid activist, Gordhan was deeply involved in student and civic movements during the 1970s and 1980s. He was a prominent executive member of the Natal Indian Congress and served as a military operative in Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the African National Congress.
Gordhan also played a crucial role in South Africa’s transition to democracy. He was an active participant in the Convention for a Democratic South Africa multi-party dialogue, a process that laid the groundwork for the country’s democratic future. He later chaired the Parliamentary Constitutional Committee, helping shape the country’s post-apartheid constitution.
His early career was marked by his graduation from the University of Durban-Westville in 1973 with a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree, which led to a stint at King Edward VIII Hospital in Durban from 1974 to 1981. His political activism during this period led to his dismissal from the hospital, as well as subsequent detentions and banning orders by the apartheid government.
Before his second term as Finance Minister, Gordhan held the position of Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs from 2014 to 2015. He also served as Minister of Public Enterprises from 2018 until March 2024, when he announced his planned retirement.