JOHANNESBURG, Sept 13 (Askume) – South African politician Pravin Gordhan died on Friday aged 75. tax services and fighting corruption.
Gordhan is also remembered for his efforts during former president Jacob Zuma’s tenure to end what many South Africans called “state capture” by private interests. As finance minister, he repeatedly warned the country against corruption.
Gordhan’s family said in a statement: “Mr Gordhan passed away peacefully in hospital this morning with his family, close friends and lifelong comrades in the liberation struggle by his side.”
He said she had “fought a short but courageous battle with cancer.”
Gordhan’s African National Congress party has long respected his role as an anti-apartheid activist. Gordhan was also involved in negotiations to end white minority rule in 1994.
President Cyril Ramaphosa praised Gordhan’s personal sacrifices and achievements in the service of South Africa.
“In his final years of service to the country… Pravin Gordhan stood up to the taunts and threats of those… who sought to undermine our democracy and take away from us the public resources and assets we wanted to attack,” Ramaphosa said in a statement.
Zuma faced multiple court cases over alleged corruption during and after his term as president from 2009 to 2018, but he has strongly denied the allegations. A judicial inquiry in 2022 exposed systemic corruption during his rule .
In addition to his role as finance minister, Gordhan has held several ministerial positions, including minister of cooperative governance and traditional affairs and minister of public enterprises. He announced his retirement in March.
He served as Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service from 1999 to 2009 and is credited with developing the concept of modern tax and customs administration.
