President Cyril Ramaphosa has paid his tribute to former minister of state enterprises, Pravin Gordhan, who died at a Johannesburg hospital on Friday morning.
According to a family statement released on Friday morning, Gordhan who was 75 years old died peacefully while surrounded by his loved ones.
His death, comes after rumours of his death circulated on social media platforms on Wednesday and Thursday.
However, these were dispelled by Gordhan’s daughter, Anisha, who on Thursday morning denied that her father had died.
On Wednesday, a group of friends and family, gathered outside the hospital in a candle light ceremony after he was admitted in hospital early in the week.
“It is with profound sadness that the family announces the death of former minister Pravin Gordhan. Mr Gordhan passed away peacefully in hospital surrounded by family and close friends and his lifelong comrades in the liberation struggle in the early hours of this morning,” the family said.
Speaking through his spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, President Cyril Ramaphosa, in a statement shortly after his death said he is deeply saddened by the passing of lifelong activist and former Minister of Public Enterprises.
“President Ramaphosa offers his deep condolences to Mr Gordhan’s spouse, Ms Vanitha Raju, daughters Anisha and Priyesha, as well as the former Minister’s older brother, Manecklal Gordhan, and sister Shanta Harilal.
“The President’s thoughts are with former Minister Gordhan’s extended family, comrades, associates and organisations with whom he established relationships as a family and community member, freedom fighter, public sector executive and Member of the National Executive,” he said.
Ramaphosa lauded Gordhan for his fight against corruption saying: 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.
“In the latter years of this service to the nation, and as a beacon of our fight against corruption, Pravin Gordhan stood up to derision and threats emanating from some in our nation who were scorched by his insistence that justice be dispensed against those who sought to undermine our democracy and raid our public resources and assets.”
Ramaphosa’s tribute to Gordhan was preceded by a statement issued by the ANC in which party spokesperson, Zuko Godlimpi, wished him a speedy recovery.
“The ANC would like to extend its heartfelt wishes for a swift and complete recovery to former ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) member and veteran of our movement Comrade Pravin Gordhan,” Godlimpi said.
Former Public Protector said she was shocked and saddened by Gordhan’s passing.
“Shocked and deeply saddened by the news of the passing of former minister and Struggle stalwart Pravin Gordhan. He worked selflessly to help bring about democracy and did a stellar job in making SARS a world class institution. Heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and colleagues.”
DA’s Minister of Home Affairs, Leon Schreiber said: “I am saddened by the passing of Pravin Gordhan and extend my heartfelt condolences to his loved ones. He blazed the trail of modernisation and digital transformation at SARS that Home Affairs now wishes to build on, over a decade later. That is a testament to his legacy.”
The Star