DEVELOPING | Ramaphosa declares special official funeral for Gordhan | News24 (2024)

Tribute | Pravin Gordhan: Non-racialist servant of the people who fought the devil of corruption

The man who came through the gate that Monday in March was a very different person from the abrasive voice that had been on the phone the previous day.

On the Sunday, an angry Pravin Gordhan had phoned in response to a not-so complimentary article by this lowly newspaperman about his leadership of the public enterprises portfolio and his culpability in the continued malaise in state-owned enterprises (SOEs).

That the criticism had stung was evident in the haranguing, which was punctuated with “How dare you?” refrains.

OPINION

Sam Mathe | Pravin Gordhan: A diligent and committed servant of the people

A deluge of praises followed Pravin Gordhan’s passing on Friday morning after a battle with cancer. He has been lauded as a courageous and unwavering struggle stalwart with a strong, unequivocal sense of justice.

In the words of his long-time comrade and friend, Mac Maharaj: “He had walked the path strewn with thorns but never faltered.”

He was the consummate freedom fighter – fearless, dedicated, industrious and tireless.

'Those were my cadres' – Zuma on Gordhan, as he says he doesn't know 'where things went wrong'

Former president Jacob Zuma told mourners at a memorial service for six MK Party (MKP) members on Saturday that he did not know how his relationship with Pravin Gordhan soured.

Gordhan, the founding commissioner of the South African Revenue Service, twice finance minister and the face of the resistance against the project of state capture, widely believed to have been led by Zuma and the Gupta brothers, died on Friday morning.

He was 75.

Zuma and Gordhan, who had been appointed by the former president as his first finance minister, fell out at the height of state capture. The then-presidentfired Gordhan and his deputy, Mcebisi Jonas, and reshuffled his Cabinetto include two of his allies in what was seen as a move to consolidate power around the Treasury in 2017.

Pravin Gordhan: Tributes pour in as SA mourns the loss of former minister

As the nation mourns the death of former public enterprises ministerPravin Gordhan(75), various organisations and political parties, including the Congress of the People (COPE), ActionSA, Rise Mzansi and the Democratic Alliance, have extended their condolences to Gordhan’s family.

Gordhan’s passing was announced by theAhmed Kathrada Foundation, which stated that he died in the early hours of Friday, 13 September, after succumbing to cancer.

“Mr Gordhan passed away peacefully in hospital, surrounded by his family, closest friends, and lifelong comrades in the liberation struggle,” the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation said in a statement.

Pravin Gordhan: Opinion and analysis on a life in the struggle, state capture battle

News24 columnists and guest writers reflect on Gordhan's life in struggle and the state capture battle.

Ramaphosa declares special official funeral for Gordhan

President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that Pravin Gordhan will be honoured with a Special Official Funeral Category 2. The ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, 19 September 2024.

'We know his deeds': Mbalula hits back at Gordhan's 'haters'

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has rebuked Pravin Gordhan's detractors, saying the former finance minister's deeds were well demonstrated when he was alive.

After visiting Gordhan's family in Pretoria on Friday afternoon, Mbalula was resolute the ANC veteran and former minister of finance's legacy would not be drowned out.

"He will be hated by people who are state capturers, he will be hated by people who were seen to be corrupt, he will be hated, and we don't expect them to love him, but what they cannot erase is the truth and who this man was," he said.

"PG was there to fight what was wrong, even if it meant against one of our own. He stood firm in leading the struggle against graft, corruption and state capture."

Gauteng ANC chairperson Panyaza Lesufi and ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula address the media outside of Pravin Gordhan’s home in Pretoria.

- Alex Mitchley

(Picture: Alex Mitchley)

Fikile Mbalula is briefing the media after visiting the family of Pravin Gordhan.

He describes Gordhan as a giant and a hero of the people.

Mabalula also dismissed negative commentary about Gordhan's legacy, saying that the people know the truth.

"He will be hated by people who are state capturers, he will be hated by people seen as corrupt. But what they cannot erase is the truth"

- Alex Mitchley

ANC Gauteng Provincial Secretary TK Nciza, who is also visiting Gordhan's family, described the veteran ANC member as a freedom fighter and servant of the people.

"We have lost a cadre, we have lost a leader, we lost one of us," Nciza said.

- Alex Mitchley

Gauteng ANC chairperson Panyaza Lesufi and the ANC's secretary-general Fikile Mbalula have arrived at Pravin Gordhan's family home in Pretoria to pay their respects.

Mbalula is expected to address the media afterwards.

-Alex Mitchley

'My father was an incorruptible, honest man,' says Pravin Gordhan's daughter

Despite the public attacks the family faced, Pravin Gordhan refused to give up and remained resolute in serving the country to the best of his ability, his daughter Priyesha said on Friday.

Speaking at a media briefing in Houghton, Johannesburg, Priyesha spoke about her family's challenges during Gordhan's political career.

The founding commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (SARS), twice finance minister and the face of the resistance against the Zuma and Gupta-led project of state capture, died on Friday morning. He was 75.

Fearless patriot - but also 'always in doubt': Business leaders on Gordhan's legacy

Business leaders have responded to the death of Pravin Gordhan by lauding his contribution to democracy and the economy, with plaudits used to describe the former minister and struggle veteran ranging from hero to fearless ambassador and patriot.

However, his oversight of government finances and state-owned entities, and indecision, has also been criticised.

Gordhan, who died on Friday morning at age 75 after a battle with cancer, was commissioner of the SA Revenue Service (SARS) for a decade before former president Jacob Zuma appointed him as minister of finance in 2009. Gordhan played a key role in resisting Zuma's efforts to hand over control of the National Treasury to the Guptas, the State Capture Inquiry found.

In May 2014, he was replaced by Nhlanhla Nene as minister of finance — who was then dismissed by Zuma within a year for not backing a nuclear deal. After a brief and disastrous appointment of the unknown figure Des van Rooyen, Zuma reluctantly again appointed Gordhan as finance minister.

Parliament's Presiding Officers have expressed their profound sadness and deepest condolences on the passing of former Minister Pravin Gordhan.

In a statement, National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza, and the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane have remembered Gordhan as a lifelong activist and dedicated public servant who fought against apartheid.

"He was among the first generation of parliamentarians following the 1994 democratic breakthrough that contributed immensely to shaping the course of our democracy through, amongst others, setting up democratic institutions, and systems and laying a firm foundation for legislative reform," a statement in their names read.

They also said his service in Cabinet and public service was for the betterment of the country.

Gordhan served as Minister of Finance, Cooperative Governance, and later Public Enterprises.

- Jason Felix

Sikonathi Mantshantsha | A cut above the rest: Farewell to tough taskmaster Pravin Gordhan

Pravin Gordhan always assumed everybody knew what the correct thing was. Either you were doing it, or you were not, and he dealt with everybody on that basis. There were no grey areas. You were either in or out, writesSikonathi Mantshantsha.

"Comrade Pravin Gordhan’s legacy of commitment to justice, good governance and service to the people will continue to inspire future generations," the SACP – on whose central committee Gordhan served in the 1990's – said in a statement.

"In memory of Comrade Pravin Gordhan, the SACP calls on our national-revolutionary democratic movement and all progressive South Africans to intensify non-racial efforts and values he stood for, to advance the transformation and development of our country in pursuit of a completely non-racial society."

"He will be remembered, among other contributions, for his pivotal role in the national fight against state capture. The SACP worked closely with him during this critical time, particularly before 2019, in our efforts to save the country from the destructive forces of bad governance and large-scale state-capture corruption."

– Jan Gerber

Neeshan Balton, the executive director of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, says the briefing was arranged to pay honour and tribute to the late Pravin Gordhan.

(Alfonso Nqunjana/News24)

In closing, Gordhan's daughter, Priyesha spoke about the public attacks they faced as a family.

"It was all very distressing for him. It wasn't his sole decision to stay in the public arena. He was told and asked by many different people to stay, to fight because the country needed him.

"My parents are both political activists and freedom fighters and as difficult as those attacks were knowing that my father is an incorruptible, honest man who has only ever served the public to the best of his ability," she said.

- Iavan Pijoos

Responding to the statement released by the EFF which stated that Gordhan was the "embodiment of greed, corruption, and elitism", Manuel described it as a statement of "irony".

Manuel said: "Greed and corruption defines what the EFF leadership is about. There is a fundamental problem with a party that will not disclose who funds it."

- Iavan Pijoos

Jonas on State Capture: "I think there has been progress in some instances. I think some institutions have been rebuilt, particularly if you think about the NPA and the Hawks.

"I'm saying there is progress, but I think we could do better and we should be doing better."

- Iavan Pijoos

Jonas: "If you think about it in that period, most of the institutions, key institutions from the NPA, Hawks and police… there was a major attack to weaken them."

- Iavan Pijoos

In answering a question about State Capture, Jonas says evidence showed that projects like State Capture succeed once you weaken the government.

- Iavan Pijoos

Neeshan Balton says he was disappointed by the "most disgusting" content he read on X (formerly known as Twitter) this week about Gordhan's life.

"I hope going forward that when we introspect his life, it will be done on the basis of fact, not fiction, but I think you would have heard it on some of the radio stations this morning."

- Iavan Pijoos

Shiela Sisulu on Gordhan: "He spoke against and worked against everything that was wrong in our government and in our organisation at the time. But, he was never, cruel, never unkind but firm in his, in his beliefs."

- Iavan Pijoos

Trevor Manuel says parastatals were healthy before state capture, with little debt and no transfers from the fiscus.

But the sole purpose of capture was to cripple SOEs, and to steal.

When Gordhan took over as minister of public enterprises "they were bare, everything was stolen."

Gordhan has been severely criticised for his efforts to save SOEs, but this context is important, Manuel said.

- Pieter du Toit

Manuel: "When PG took over public enterprises, the cupboards were bare, everything was stolen.

"The debt was high…you look at the debt service costs for Eskom. The list is endless.

"He had to work with the hand he was dealt and that context becomes quite important."

- Iavan Pijoos

Manuel says Gordhan lived courage of conviction, without regrets about the path that he chose.

"Right to the very end, Pravin was able to demonstrate the same determination, the same singleness of purpose in the way in which he addressed the two little points the book ends."

- Iavan Pijoos

Trevor Manuel, the former finance minister, said together with Jonas, they visited Gordhan in hospital on Tuesday.

"He looked at us and laughed and said: 'Hey broers, you are here'.

"As you can see, the end is near."

- Iavan Pijoos

"Gordhan was a leader, a mentor, a builder and activist. He was a builder, a father and an inspiration.

"Those of you who have worked with him would know that some of the things he said were not just his own; he would have canvassed those ideas with a lot of people,” Nkomfe said.

- Iavan Pijoos

Nkomfe says Gordhan never saw himself as a politician.

"He would actually respond very badly if you say he's a politician. The issue of activism and being an activist to the last is what defined him and a sense of service to the people."

- Iavan Pijoos

Nkomfe says Gordhan's last posting to public enterprises was a ‘poisoned chalice’, because parastatals were the main sites of state capture.

- Pieter du Toit

Mandla Nkomfe is now at the lectern. A former MEC for finance in Gauteng, he has been a close advisor to Gordhan for over a decade, most recently at the ministry of public enterprises.

-Pieter du Toit

Hanekom said Gordhan lived a life completely dedicated to the struggle for a non-racial, non-sexist, democratic South Africa.

"That was his life until the end, so it's really an honour to speak here today. But it's also an honour to be with somebody like Mac Maharaj because he is still with us, and we're grateful that he's still with us, and he is exactly the same. Mac Maj will struggle until the very end," Hanekom said.

Hanekom said Gordhan had a profound influence on his life.

"Pravin was a man of many dimensions, many chapters to his life, and one can speak forever and forever.

"But more appropriate than saying a giant has fallen is to say a humble servant of the people has fallen."

- Iavan Pijoos

Hanekom on Gordhan: "This amazing supportive family enabled Pravin to be a fighter until the very end. And a fighter, not just for the sake of fighting, but a fighter for justice, a fighter for what is right.

"We can put roses and flowers on his grave, and we can do all of the things that might be done when a person passes away. But more than anything, he would have liked us to carry on with that struggle because the struggle, indeed, was his life."

- Iavan Pijoos

Hanekom says a humble servant of the people has fallen. He describes Gordhan as a "remarkable hero".

- Iavan Pijoos

Jonas said there was a time when things were difficult in this country.

"There was a time when it was obvious and visible to anyone that the credibility and integrity of the ANC were completely undermined.

"I tell you now, within no time, PG was in the forefront without going out of ANC structures, going out of the normal alliance structures to mobilise society against the capture, to mobilise society on a new agenda for strengthening and deepening democracy in this country.

"I can tell you now with no fear of contradiction that if PG didn't do that, the Guptas would still be in power. Oh, sorry, Jacob Zuma will still.”

- Iavan Pijoos

Derek Hanekom says Gordhan was "intensely loyal."

Hanekom was, of course, fired as minister of tourism alongside Gordhan in March 2017. He was one of the senior ANC leaders who openly defied Zuma and the capture network.

- Pieter du Toit

COMMENT | A strong theme from speakers is the non-racial ethos that Gordhan lived. And the panel and those bringing their tributes reflect that.

- Pieter du Toit

Jonas said: "PG suffered. He suffered personally. We witnessed it. His family suffered. He was demonised by many to the point where even racial slurs were thrown at him.

"There was a time when others even thought it wise to attack him before because they happened to think he is Indian."

- Iavan Pijoos

"PG suffered personally, his family suffered, racial slurs thrown at him," Mcebisi Jonas says, his voice breaking.

- Pieter du Toit

Jonas said Gordhan's "revolutionary credentials" stemmed from an absolute complete commitment to the people to the South African people.

"One thing that strikes you in dealing with PG's life, was about advancing the lot of the South African.

"It was about how to take South Africa out of poverty, how to take it in a different trip and how to deepen the work that the African national progress in general, but also government specifically was doing to improve a lot of our people."

He added: "The most difficult thing for any activist is when you stand against your own colleagues; it is when you have to confront the ills and wrongs that your own comrades are doing."

- Iavan Pijoos

In his tribute, Mcebisi Jonas, former Deputy Finance Minister, said:" It is really a sad moment that we want to waste away within a very short space of time but still experience the wisdom, the clarity and lucidity of thought that people have always had.

"He enriched us even in his last days about what to do with South Africa."

- Iavan Pijoos

Maharaj described Gordhan as an "indomitable freedom fighter".

"Nothing that the enemy could marshal against him deterred him. He strengthened and gave me knowledge that our struggle, even in this democratic era, is always about the people, for they, the people, are the makers of history, and ours is a duty to be their servant."

Pravin was their servant in the struggle against apartheid and in the making of our democracy to deliver a better and more caring society," Maharaj said.

- Iavan Pijoos

"I'm also seized with a profound sense of gratitude that I was able to share the freedom trenches, freedom struggle trenches with Pravin" - Maharaj

- Iavan Pijoos

Mac Maharaj, the former transport minister, will now pay tribute to Gordhan.

"Today, I am filled with deep sadness," Maharaj opens his speech.

- Iavan Pijoos