Pravin Gordhan’s family requests for privacy as former minister is admitted to hospital

Former Minister Pravin Gordhan.

Former Minister Pravin Gordhan.

Published Sep 10, 2024

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Former South African Minister in Parliament, Pravin Gordhan has been admitted to hospital.

This was according to a statement released by the Gordhan family on Tuesday evening.

The statement said that Gordhan is receiving “the best available medical care.”

The family urged the public to respect their request for privacy during this difficult period.

"The family has requested privacy during this difficult time," the statement read.

It further indicated that updates on Gordhan’s health would be shared in due course.

Gordhan is 75 years old and most recently served as the country’s Minister of Public Enterprises.

In August, Gordhan issued an apology on the evening before the Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises was due to meet, due to ill health. 

Earlier this year in March, the Department of Public Works confirmed Gordhan's retirement after the May 29 elections.

He has also previously served as the Minister of Finance and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

He served as the Deputy Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (SARS) from 1998 to 1999 and was appointed as the Commissioner of SARS in 1999.Mr Gordhan entered South African politics during the height of the struggle against Apartheid.

He led and organised the Student Movement and Civic Structures from the 1970’s to 1980’s. Gordhan was involved in the CODESA multi-party dialogue, participated in drafting the White Paper for Local Government and was appointed as the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Constitutional Committee in Parliament, where he was responsible for overseeing the implementation of the 1996 Constitution.

Gordhan’s history:

Pravin Jamnadas Gordhan was born on April, 12, 1949 and grew up in Durban, Kwazulu-Natal.

After attending Sastri College he obtained a Bachelor of Pharmacy from the University of Durban-Westville and completed his postgraduate studies in Human Resource Development.

He also completed a postgraduate diploma in Economics at the London School of Economics.

During the apartheid years Gordhan played a prominent role as an anti-apartheid activist. He was an executive member of the Natal Indian Congress between 1974 and 1990, secretary and later chair of the Durban Housing Committee.

Between 1977 and 1990, he was an active member of the ANC/SACP underground movement. Involved in Mkhonto Wesizwe’s Operation Vula, he was tortured and detained for four months. Pravin chaired Codesa in 1992, and the following year he co-chaired the Transitional Executive Council as well as the Multi-Party Negotiation Process.

He became a member of the first democratic Parliament in 1994 and kept the position until 1998. He served on the Council of the University of Durban-Westville from 1995 to 1997 and he chaired the World Customs Organisation from 2000 to 2006.

Gordhan entered South African politics during the height of the struggle against Apartheid. He led and organised the Student Movement and Civic Structures from the 1970’s to 1980’s.

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