South African Government to Honor Pravin Gordhan with Special Official Funeral in Durban, Following His Death After a Short Battle with Cancer

The family of Pravin Gordhan has shared the details for his upcoming funeral.

Gordhan, who sadly passed away on Friday morning after a brief battle with cancer, will be honored with a special official funeral.

This was confirmed by President Cyril Ramaphosa during the signing of the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill.

Funeral Arrangements

The service for Gordhan is scheduled to take place in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, on Thursday, September 19, 2024.

Following the public ceremony, Gordhan will be cremated in a private family gathering, as shared by Neeshan Balton, a close family friend and executive director at the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation.

Pravin Gordhan’s Retirement

Gordhan retired in May 2024, just before the national elections on May 29, after dedicating over 25 years to public service.

He cited a desire to focus on his health and family as his reasons for stepping down.

Career Highlights

Gordhan’s career began to shine when he was appointed as the commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (SARS) in 1999.

He held this position until 2009, when he transitioned to the role of Minister of Finance under President Jacob Zuma.

Throughout his career, Gordhan took on several significant ministerial roles:

• Minister of Finance (2009 – 2014 and 2015 – 2017)
• Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (2014 – 2015)
• Minister of Public Enterprises (2018 – May 2024)

Notably, Gordhan was celebrated for his efforts to combat State Capture at Treasury and for his principled resistance against the Gupta family’s attempts to undermine state-owned agencies during his tenure as finance minister.