Celebrating the Legacy of Pravin Gordhan: South Africa's Anti-Apartheid Stalwart Passes Away at 75

Pravin Gordhan, a former South African government minister and anti-apartheid activist, passed away at 75 due to cancer. An influential member of the African National Congress, Gordhan retired from politics after the ANC lost its parliamentary majority in May. He was known for his integrity and opposition to corruption.

Pravin Gordhan, a former South African government minister and a prominent figure in the anti-apartheid movement, passed away on Friday at the age of 75 after battling cancer.

Gordhan, of Indian origin and a long-time member of the African National Congress (ANC), retired from political life following the ANC's loss of its parliamentary majority in the recent May elections, marking the first time this has happened since the party came to power in 1994.

Surrounded by his family, closest friends, and long-time comrades from the liberation struggle, Gordhan died peacefully in the early hours of the morning, his family announced. President Cyril Ramaphosa lauded Gordhan as an exceptional leader whose quiet demeanor masked a profound intellect, integrity, and dedication to his duties as an activist, parliamentarian, and government minister.

A political activist from his teenage years, Gordhan was deeply involved in the fight against apartheid, joining the ANC's underground operations in the 1980s. He played a significant role in negotiating South Africa's peaceful transition to constitutional democracy and later became a member of parliament in 1994 following Nelson Mandela's election as president.

Gordhan's last government position was as the minister of public enterprises from 2018 to 2024, where he was responsible for state-owned enterprises. He also served two terms as finance minister, from 2009 to 2014 and again from 2015 to 2017. He was credited with transforming the South Africa Revenue Services into a world-class tax and customs service during his tenure from 1999 to 2009.

Gordhan was a vocal critic of government corruption and was among the ministers who openly opposed former President Jacob Zuma's leadership while serving in his Cabinet.

(With inputs from agencies.)