Pravin Gordhan, South Africa’s former finance minister and anti-apartheid veteran, has died at the age of 75, his family confirmed. Gordhan, who passed away after a brief battle with cancer, was surrounded by family, close friends, and comrades at the time of his death.
Born in 1949 in Durban, Gordhan was a significant figure in South Africa’s transition to democracy. He played a pivotal role in negotiating the end of apartheid and held several high-profile government positions from the 1990s until his retirement in May.
Gordhan is best known for his tenure as commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (SARS) from 1999 to 2009, where he was credited with transforming the agency into a credible institution. He served as finance minister from 2009 to 2014 and again from December 2015, following a controversial dismissal and reappointment.
A staunch opponent of corruption, Gordhan was a central figure in the fight against state capture. His final role was as public enterprises minister, focusing on reforming state-owned enterprises like Eskom and South African Airways.
President Cyril Ramaphosa praised Gordhan as a “beacon of the fight against corruption” and a leader whose personal sacrifices will be remembered. Gordhan is survived by his wife, Vanitha, and their daughters, Anisha and Priyesha.
