The death of former minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan, has left South Africans divided over his true legacy following many controversies around him and his style of politics.
Gordhan’s death was confirmed by his family in a statement on Friday, following speculation during the past few days that he had died days earlier. These rumours were dismissed by his family.
While President Cyril Ramaphosa lauded Gordhan for his many contributions to democracy, some have questioned his role in the privatisation of key SOEs in the midst of his perceived arrogance.
Controversial Durban bishop and MK Party member Sandile Ndlela is circulating a video in which he says Gordhan should rot in hell.
“We wake up to the news of Pravin’s death early in the morning, but what I can say is that Pravin, you must go rot in hell. God has called you to heaven but I say go rot in hell because you killed South Africa,” Ndlela says in a video message.
Earlier this year, Gordhan, who announced that he would be retiring from his position as minister after the May 29 elections, was forced to close the book on the controversial sale of 51% of SAA to the Takatso consortium.
The former minister, who died at the age of 75, also dismissed allegations of corruption in the collapsed Takatso deal.
Gordhan earlier said: “Suddenly I have become a corrupt individual in the eyes of some people without them having an iota of proof.
“If you find me having stolen one cent of public money you have something on your side which I do not have. Nobody can find that ... This was not done under pressure. This was a process professionally handled by the department and we came to the point where we say maybe this is not the best route for SAA to be taken through.”
Ramaphosa lauded Gordhan for his contribution to the country’s Struggle for freedom, saying: “Pravin Gordhan’s personal sacrifices and his endeavours and achievements in various sectors of our society endowed him with the insights, empathy and resilience that fuelled his service to the nation.
“In the latter years of this service to the nation, and as a beacon of our fight against corruption, Pravin Gordhan stood up to derision and threats emanating from some in our nation who were scorched by his insistence that justice be dispensed against those who sought to undermine our democracy and raid our public resources and assets.
“During his decades of revolutionary dedication to making South Africa a better place, Pravin Gordhan and his family were deprived of much needed and deserved time together.
“As we mourn his passing, we remain grateful for his life of sacrifice and service and his sustained striving for the realisation of the vision and dictates of our Constitution.”
EFF spokesperson and Member of Parliament Sinawo Thambo said: “Pravin Gordhan was arguably the most arrogant, dismissive and palpably racist and hateful products of UDF. I think it is even inappropriate to regard him as ANC. He was a mean spirited Indian essentialist, who hid his hate of African leadership under the guise of anti-corruption.
“I did not want to say anything, but the campaign to portray him as having a good legacy is a dirty lie that must be contested.”
The Star