Anti-Apartheid Icon Pravin Gordhan Dies at Age 75

Pravin Gordhan, a prominent figure in post-apartheid South Africa known for revamping the tax system and combating corruption, passed away at the age of 75, as announced by his family on Friday.

He had been battling cancer.

Having dedicated five decades to politics and public service, Gordhan retired as a cabinet minister a few months before the general elections in May of this year to prioritise his health and family.

Gordhan played a significant role in successive governments following the historic all-race elections of 1994 that marked the end of apartheid rule.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa paid tribute, describing him as “an exceptional leader whose unassuming demeanour masked the depth of intellect, integrity, and vigour with which he approached his activism, parliamentary duties, and roles in the cabinet.”

Though softly spoken and composed in public, Gordhan was formidable behind the scenes, gaining international recognition for his fiscal discipline and anti-corruption efforts.

During his final term in the cabinet, he oversaw public enterprises. Ramaphosa appointed him to root out corruption and inefficiency at state-owned entities such as troubled electricity provider Eskom and embattled South African Airways.

However, he was criticised for not effectively addressing these issues, which left several debt-ridden state-owned enterprises in dire straits upon retirement.

From 2009 to 2017, he served two terms as finance minister before being dismissed by former president Jacob Zuma, who was embroiled in corruption scandals, as part of a broader purge of opponents and critics.

Gordhan is lauded for transforming the South African Revenue Service (SARS) into an autonomous and reputable institution during his tenure from 1999 to 2009.

Following news of his passing, it described him as a “fearless advocate for public service.”

It highlighted how he “advocated for policies and reforms that strengthened the institution, elevating it to a globally respected revenue service. “

Born in Durban in 1949, Gordhan began his political journey as a pharmacy student at the University of Durban-Westville, which was then exclusively an institution for Indians.

During this period, he became involved with the anti-apartheid Natal Indian Congress and associated with the African National Congress and the South African Communist Party. Throughout the 1980s, he was repeatedly detained for his activism challenging the white-minority rule.

He played a crucial role in negotiations that paved the way for South Africa’s first democratic elections in 1994 and subsequently became a member of parliament for the ANC.