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Pravin Gordhan

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The Honourable
Pravin Gordhan
MP
Gordhan in 2015
Minister of Public Enterprises
In office
28 February 2018 – 19 June 2024
PresidentCyril Ramaphosa
Preceded byLynne Brown
Succeeded byposition abolished
Minister of Finance
In office
14 December 2015 – 31 March 2017
PresidentJacob Zuma
DeputyMcebisi Jonas
Preceded byDavid van Rooyen
Succeeded byMalusi Gigaba
In office
11 May 2009 – 25 May 2014
PresidentJacob Zuma
Preceded byTrevor Manuel
Succeeded byNhlanhla Nene
Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
In office
25 May 2014 – 14 December 2015
PresidentJacob Zuma
Preceded bySolomon Lechesa Tsenoli
Succeeded byDavid van Rooyen
Additional offices
1994–2024
Member of the National Assembly of South Africa
In office
May 2009 – 26 May 2024
In office
April 1994 – November 1999
ConstituencyDurban
Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service
In office
November 1999 – May 2009
PresidentJacob Zuma
Preceded byTrevor van Heerden
Succeeded byOupa Magashule
Personal details
Born
Pravin Jamnadas Gordhan

(1949-04-12)12 April 1949
Durban, Natal, Union of South Africa
Died13 September 2024(2024-09-13) (aged 75)
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Political partySouth African Communist Party (before 2009)
African National Congress (2009–2024)[1]
SpouseVanitha
ChildrenAnisha and Priyesha Gordhan
Alma materUniversity of Durban-Westville
Occupation
ProfessionPharmacist
Military service
AllegianceUmkhonto We Sizwe
Branch/serviceOperation Vula (1986–1990)
Years of service1970–1994
RankMilitary operative

Pravin Jamnadas Gordhan (12 April 1949 – 13 September 2024) was a South African politician and anti-apartheid activist who held various ministerial posts in the Cabinet of South Africa. He served as Minister of Finance from 2009 until 2014, and again from 2015 until 2017, as Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs from 2014 until 2015,[2][3] and as Minister of Public Enterprises from February 2018 until June 2024, when the entire Department of Public Enterprises and its ministry were abolished following the 2024 general elections.[4]

Early years and education

[edit]

Pravin Gordhan was born on 12 April 1949 to an Indian South African family,[5] in Durban, and matriculated from Sastri College in 1967.[6][7][8]

In 1973 he graduated from the University of Durban-Westville with a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree.[9] He completed his pharmacy internship at King Edward VIII Hospital in 1974 and worked there until 1981.[10]

Early political activism

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Gordhan became associated with members of the Natal Indian Congress (NIC) in 1971 and was elected to its executive council in 1974.[11][8] During the 1970s, Gordhan helped establish grassroots organizations that became involved in underground activities and associated with the African National Congress (ANC) and later the South African Communist Party (SACP).[12]

In 1981 the Natal Provincial Administration dismissed Gordhan from King Edward VIII Hospital for his political activities while he was in detention. He was released from jail in 1982 and received banning orders effective until June 1983.[8] Gordhan became a key figure in the United Democratic Front (UDF) since 1983 when the NIC became an affiliated organization.[13][8]

Gordhan attended the preparatory meeting for the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA) in 1991 as a joint NIC/Transvaal Indian Congress (TIC) representative, and was appointed NIC/TIC delegate to the steering committee responsible for organising CODESA 1. In 1993 he was appointed to the panel of chairpersons on the planning committee of the multi-party negotiation process.[14]

Career

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Gordhan was previously the Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service from 1999 to 2009.[15] From 1991 and 1994, he chaired the Convention for a Democratic South Africa,[15] and he was the co-Chairman of the Transitional Executive Council, which prepared South Africa for the country's first non-racial election in April 1994.[16]

As a member of parliament from 1994 to 1998, Gordhan chaired the parliamentary committee that focused on the implementation of the new Constitution and the transformation of local government in the post-apartheid.[17]

Gordhan was chairman of the World Customs Organization from 2000 to 2006.[15]

On 10 May 2009, President Jacob Zuma appointed Gordhan as Minister of Finance, succeeding Trevor Manuel.[18] On 25 May 2014, he was replaced by Nhlanhla Nene as Minister of Finance.[19]

In 2014, Gordhan was appointed the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs,[20] succeeding Lechesa Tsenoli who became Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa.[21]

On 14 December 2015, Gordhan was re-appointed Minister of Finance, replacing David van Rooyen who had been minister for four days.[22]

In 2018, Gordhan was re-appointed to the Cabinet of President Cyril Ramaphosa as Minister of Public Enterprises, taking over from former Minister Lynne Brown. He would oversee state-owned enterprises including the likes of Eskom, SAA, Denel, and others.[23]

Gordhan did not receive enough branch nominations to be included on the "Top 200" list of people nominated for election to the ANC National Executive Committee ahead of the party's 55th National Conference in December 2022.[24] At the conference, he was one of a number of high-profile ANC leaders to lose their seats on the NEC.[25]

Gordhan retired from politics at the end of the sixth administration of South Africa's democratic government. His intention to retire was announced in March 2024.[26]

Controversies and court cases

[edit]
Gordhan during the WEF 2012

South African journalist Pieter du Toit has written that Gordhan has become target of a smear campaign by people involved in state capture related corrupt activities due to Gordhan's efforts to fight corruption; du Toit names people associated with the Gupta family, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), and factions within the ANC as being amongst Gordhan's harshest critics whilst also being implicated themselves in possible corrupt activities.[27] Other people and organisations, including the Kathrada Foundation,[28] author Pieter-Louis Myburgh,[29] and journalist Ferial Haffajee.[30] have also stated that Gordhan is the target of smear campaigns.

Controversial businessman Iqbal Survé had repeatedly accused Gordhan of targeting Survé's Sekunjalo Group while Survé and Sekunjalo companies faced fraud investigations by the FSCA and termination of banking services.[31] Survé's accusations against Gordhan were found to be baseless and lacking in evidence.[32][33][34]

Since becoming Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Gordhan's middle name, Jamnadas, has been used extensively by critics, most notably on Twitter, as a pejorative term and dog whistle to highlight his Indian ethnicity in a racially prejudicial way.[35]

Rogue unit

[edit]

On the eve of the 2016 Budget Speech that was to be tabled on 24 February 2016, a list of questions from the Hawks was sent to Gordhan. In total there were 27 questions around the alleged "rogue unit" at South African Revenue Service (SARS).[36] Gordhan was the SARS commissioner in 2007, when the so-called rogue unit was set up. He has maintained that it was above board and had ministerial approval.[37] Many questioned the timing of the questions sent including Gwede Mantashe, the Secretary General of the African National Congress (ANC).[38] Gordhan himself was baffled by the questions, having the following to say "Once again, the Hawks and those who instruct them, have no regard for the economic and social welfare of millions".[37] He then sent a letter to the Hawks through his department that he would be unable to meet the deadline imposed. The letter from his office stated that "He will respond in due course, once he has properly examined the questions and ascertained what information, of the information you request, he is able to provide". He also wanted to know from what authority the Hawks asked these questions of him.[39] On 30 March 2016, he replied to the questions put to him by the Hawks.[40] Gordhan was quoted, "I believe this was meant to intimidate and distract us from the work we had to do in preparing the 2016 Budget".[41]

In September 2017, international auditing firm KPMG abruptly withdrew all of its findings‚ recommendations, and conclusions around its report into the SARS "rogue spy unit" which had implicated Gordhan. SARS Commissioner Tom Moyane disputed KPMG's withdrawal of the report withdrawal, calling it "unethical conduct", and claimed that the report is not flawed.[42][43]

Hiring practices

[edit]

In October 2016, South Africa's state prosecutor levied fraud charges against Gordhan for allowing a former colleague at SARS to take early retirement and then re-hiring them as a consultant. Charges were dropped a few days later.[44] In October 2016, Gordhan lodged an application in the North Gauteng High Court to rule that he may not interfere with the major banks' decision to close the Oakbay Investments accounts. In August 2017, the court ruled against his application deeming it unnecessary.[45]

Public Protector

[edit]

In May 2019, Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane released a controversial report recommending that the presidency take disciplinary action against Gordhan for past allegations of fraud at SARS.[46] Gordhan's legal team challenged Mkhwebane's findings as being "totally wrong both in fact and in law".[46] Mkhwebane publicly denied that it was part of a larger political struggle to target and discredit Gordhan.[47][48] In July 2019 the Gauteng Division of the High Court of South Africa ruled that Mkhwebane's action as Public Protector against Gordhan be suspended, pending a judicial review of Mkhwabane's report on the SARS "rogue unit". The judge stated that a number of Mkhwebane's assertions were "vague, contradictory and/or nonsensical".[49][50]

Sale of South African Airways

[edit]

Gordhan was accused of orchestrating the sale of South African Airways (SAA) in "an irregular manner".[51] Gordhan had planned to sell the state-owned airline for ZAR 51 to the Takatso group, but the deal was scrapped after two years in the making.[52][53] This resulted in UDM leader Bantu Holomisa to call on President Cyril Ramaphosa to fire Gordhan.[54]

Parliament's portfolio committee on public enterprises referred the matter to the Special Investigative Unit for further investigation, citing the importance of transparency and accountability and concerned about the undervaluation of SAA.[55]

Death

[edit]

On 10 September 2024, Gordhan's family announced that he was admitted to hospital.[56] At a press conference on 12 September, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said that Gordhan was in a "critical condition" and receiving the best care in hospital.[57] Gordhan died from cancer at Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre in Johannesburg, on 13 September. He was 75.[58]

Awards

[edit]
Year Country Award Name Given by Field of Merit
2019[59] India Padma Bhushan President of India
2010[60] India Pravasi Bharatiya Samman President of India Public service

Honorary degrees

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Gordhan no longer SACP member". Fin24. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  2. ^ "Pravin Gordhan | Who's Who SA". whoswho.co.za. Archived from the original on 15 October 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  3. ^ Bloomberg, Mike Cohen / (13 September 2024). "Former South African Minister Pravin Gordhan Dies at 75". TIME. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  4. ^ Sithole, Khaya (4 July 2024). "A chance at a new life for our state enterprises …".
  5. ^ "Pravin Jamnadas Gordhan, Mr". South African Government. 12 April 1949. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  6. ^ "Remembering Pravin Gordhan: A life of activism, public service and derision". City Press. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  7. ^ "Pravin Gordhan: Veteran South Africa minister dies aged 75". BBC News. 13 September 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  8. ^ a b c d duannamaraj (13 September 2024). "Obituary: Former finance minister Pravin Gordhan (75) has died". The Witness. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  9. ^ Motha, Sibahle (8 July 2019). "UKZN confirms Gordhan qualification".
  10. ^ Thomas, David (13 September 2024). "Pravin Gordhan, respected South African former minister, dies". African Business. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  11. ^ "MSN". www.msn.com. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  12. ^ "Indian-origin ex-South African finance minister Pravin Gordhan dies at 75 after battle with cancer". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  13. ^ "Pravin Gordhan: Veteran South Africa minister dies aged 75". BBC News. 13 September 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  14. ^ "Gordhan, Pravin Jamnadas – The O'Malley Archives". Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  15. ^ a b c Bakker & Kloosterhof. Tax Risk Management. From risk to opportunity. IBFD. Amsterdam: 2010. 383f.
  16. ^ "Pravin Gordhan named SA's new Finance Minister". South African Government News Agency. 10 May 2009. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  17. ^ Leander (26 September 2013). "Pravin Jamnadas Gordhan". South African History Online. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  18. ^ "S.Africa's Zuma makes sweeping changes to cabinet", AFP, 10 May 2009.
  19. ^ "Zuma's chosen ministers and deputy ministers". News 24. Archived from the original on 11 December 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  20. ^ South Africa's Zuma replaces finance minister, again. Archived 20 December 2015 at the Wayback Machine aljazeera.com 14 December 2015.
  21. ^ Tsenoli, Lechesa Solomon. Archived 26 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine ANC Parliamentary Caucus. Accessed 18 December 2015
  22. ^ Motsoeneng, Tiisetso (14 December 2015). "South Africa says no swearing in of new finance minister Gordhan". Reuters. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  23. ^ "Pravin Gordhan back, this time as Minister of Public Enterprises". Media24. 27 February 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  24. ^ "ANC 55th National Elective Conference – Top 200 NEC Additional Members List". ANC 1912. 1 December 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  25. ^ "Mkhize returns to NEC, Gordhan out in the cold". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  26. ^ "Public Enterprises confirms Minister Pravin Gordhan's intention to retire following elections | South African Government". www.gov.za. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  27. ^ "Pieter du Toit: How Pravin Gordhan became the principal enemy of the state capture project". News24. 14 January 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  28. ^ "Kathrada Foundation slams Malema's anti-Gordhan 'smear campaign'". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  29. ^ Myburgh, Pieter-Louis (2017). The Republic of Gupta: A Story of State Capture. Penguin Books. p. 259. ISBN 9781776090891.
  30. ^ "Ferial Haffajee: Campaign against Gordhan works as Eskom reform stalls". Fin24. 25 July 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  31. ^ "FSCA raid – two judges rubbish Survé claim of Gordhan link". jutacomplinews.co.za. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  32. ^ Cronje, Jan. "Govt slams Iqbal Survé for 'malicious allegations' about Ramaphosa, Gordhan". Business. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  33. ^ "Pravin Gordhan hits back at Independent Media owner Iqbal Surve". Sowetan. 10 October 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  34. ^ "Gordhan not taking Survé outburst lying down". Daily Maverick. 10 October 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  35. ^ Snijman, Lia (23 January 2020). "POPULIST DOG WHISTLES: Pravin Jamnadas Gordhan, a case study: When your name is weaponised on Twitter". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  36. ^ "The 27 questions the Hawks sent to Gordhan". Fin24. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  37. ^ a b "Gordhan 'baffled' by timing and deadline of latest Hawks' letter". Business Day Live. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  38. ^ "SABC News – ANC questions timing of Hawks investigation into Gordhan:Friday 26 February 2016". SABC. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  39. ^ "Gordhan hits back, asks Hawks to clarify Sars 'rogue unit' probe". Fin24. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  40. ^ "Gordhan answers Hawks' questions about SARS 'rogue unit'". Business Day Live. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  41. ^ Dodds, Craig (26 February 2016). "Gordhan slams 'distracting' Hawks letter". IOL. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  42. ^ "KPMG cans SARS 'rogue unit' report' apologises to Gordhan". Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  43. ^ "Moyane reiterates he's not happy with KPMG 'rogue unit' probe". Fin24. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  44. ^ Parkinson, Joe (31 October 2016). "South African Rand Jumps After Fraud Charges Against Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan Are Dropped". Retrieved 14 October 2017.(subscription required)
  45. ^ "Court rules against Gordhan's request for relief in Gupta bank matter". Fin24. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  46. ^ a b Nkanjeni, Unathi (27 May 2019). "Pravin Gordhan vs Busisiwe Mkhwebane: what you need to know". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  47. ^ Manyathela, Clement. "Mkhwebane pre-empts 'backlash' as she issues Gordhan with notice". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  48. ^ "Busisiwe Mkhwebane takes aim at Pravin Gordhan in four telling quotes". SowetanLIVE & Sunday World. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  49. ^ "Full judgment: Why the court ruled in Gordhan's favour". Fin24. 29 July 2019. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  50. ^ "Court rules in Pravin Gordhan's favour against Busisiwe Mkhwebane". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  51. ^ Nemakonde, Vhahangwele (20 March 2024). "Parliament calls for SIU to probe alleged irregularities in collapsed SAA-Takatso deal". The Citizen. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  52. ^ "SAA's R51 sale to Takatso grounded for good". BusinessTech. Bloomberg. 14 March 2024.
  53. ^ Zaal, Nicholas (13 March 2024). "Gordhan provides 3 reasons why SAA deal with Takatso has been scrapped". The Citizen. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  54. ^ Seeletsa, Molefe (29 February 2024). "'He's made a mess of SAA sale' – Ramaphosa urged to fire Gordhan over Takatso deal". The Citizen. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  55. ^ Landu, Yoliswa (20 March 2024). "Media Statement: Public Enterprises Committee to Refer Sale of SAA to Special Investigating Unit". Parliament of South Africa. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  56. ^ van der Merwe, Marelise. "Former minister Pravin Gordhan admitted to hospital". Business. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  57. ^ Zaal, Nicholas (12 September 2024). "Pravin Gordhan critical but receiving 'best care possible' – Mbalula". The Citizen. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  58. ^ Du Toit, Pieter. "Pravin Gordhan, who fought state capture and twice served as finance minister, dies at 75". News24. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  59. ^ Staff, T. N. M. (10 January 2019). "Padma awards for 2019 announced: Full list of awardees". The News Minute. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  60. ^ "Acceptance speech by the Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan, on the occasion of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awards | South African Government". www.gov.za. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  61. ^ a b c "Pravin Gordhan". People's Assembly. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  62. ^ "Pravin Gordhan announced Business Leader of the Year". Bizcommunity. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  63. ^ "Pravin Gordhan receives honorary doctorate from Henley | MBA.co.za". www.mba.co.za. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Finance
2009–2014 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Lechesa Tsenoli
 Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
2014–2015 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of Finance
2015–2017 		Succeeded by
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