President Ramaphosa declares Special Official Funeral Category 2 to honour former Minister Pravin Gordhan

President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared that struggle stalwart and Cabinet veteran Mr Pravin Gordhan will be honoured with a Special Official Funeral Category 2 on Thursday, 19 September 2024.

Former Minister Gordhan passed away in the early hours of Friday, 13 September 2024, at the age of 75,  following a period of illness.

Mr Gordhan served as Minister of Finance from 2009 until 2014 and again from 2015 until 2017.

He also served as Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs from 2014 until 2015, and as Minister of Public Enterprises from February 2018 until his March 2024 announcement of planned retirement.

Mr Gordhan was appointed as Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service in 1999, after a period as Deputy Commissioner.

His contribution to the public sector arose from his involvement in the anti-apartheid struggle, including his role in student and civic movements in the 1970s and ‘80s, as an executive member of the Natal Indian Congress and military military operative in the armed wing of the African National Congress.

President Ramaphosa has offered 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 also with the former Minister’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.

President Ramaphosa, who visited Mr Gordhan in his final hours, has paid tribute to the former Minister as a leader who had fought to liberate South Africa from the shackles of apartheid, from inequality, from poverty and from hunger.
 
The President said Mr Gordhan had been driven by a vision of a society in which all people may achieve their full potential and in which all may realise their dreams.

On Thursday, 19 September, Mr Gordhan will be honoured with a Special Official Funeral which will encompass ceremonial elements performed by the South African Police Service.

Details of this occasion will be made known in the coming days.

The President has directed that the National Flag be flown at half-mast from tomorrow morning, Saturday, 14 September 2024, until the evening of the funeral.

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – media@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria