Pravin Gordhan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Honourable Pravin Gordhan MP
Minister of Public Enterprises
In office 28 February 2018 – 19 June 2024
President	Cyril Ramaphosa
Preceded by	Lynne Brown
Minister of Finance
In office 14 December 2015 – 31 March 2017
President	Jacob Zuma
Deputy	Mcebisi Jonas
Preceded by	David van Rooyen
Succeeded by	Malusi Gigaba
In office 11 May 2009 – 25 May 2014
President	Jacob Zuma
Preceded by	Trevor Manuel
Succeeded by	Nhlanhla Nene
Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
In office 25 May 2014 – 14 December 2015
President	Jacob Zuma
Preceded by	Solomon Lechesa Tsenoli
Succeeded by	David van Rooyen
Additional offices 1994–present Member of the National Assembly of South Africa Incumbent Assumed office May 2009 In office April 1994 – November 1999 Constituency Durban Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service In office November 1999 – May 2009 President Jacob Zuma Preceded by Trevor van Heerden Succeeded by Oupa Magashule
Personal details
Born	Pravin Jamnadas Gordhan (1949-04-12)12 April 1949 Durban, Natal, Union of South Africa
Died	13 September 2024(2024-09-13) (aged 75) Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Political party	South African Communist Party (before 2009) African National Congress (2009–2024)
Spouse	Vanitha Raju
Children	Anisha Gordhan
Alma mater	University of Durban-Westville
Occupation	Politician consultant anti-apartheid activist
Profession	Pharmacist
Military service
Allegiance	Umkhonto We Sizwe
Branch/service	Operation Vula (1986-1990)
Years of service	1970-1994
Rank	Military operative

Pravin Jamnadas Gordhan (12 April 1949 — 13 September 2024) was a 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, and as Minister of Public Enterprises from February 2018 until June 2024, when the ministry was abolished, along with the Department of Public Enterprises, following the 2024 general elections.

On 10 September 2024, Gordhan's family announced that he was admitted to hospital. On 12 September 2024, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula held a press conference to discuss Gordhan's ill-health, saying that he was in a "critical condition" and receiving the best care in hospital. Gordan died in the early hours of Friday, 13 September 2024.

Early years and education

Pravin Gordhan was born on 12 April 1949 in Durban, and matriculated from Sastri College in 1967.

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

Early political activism

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

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. Gordhan attended the launch of the United Democratic Front (UDF) in Cape Town in 1983 where it also NIC became an affiliated organisation.

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.

Career

Gordhan was previously the Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service from 1999 to 2009. From 1991 and 1994, he chaired the Convention for a Democratic South Africa, 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.

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.

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

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

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

On 14 December 2015, Gordhan was re-appointed Minister of Finance, replacing David van Rooyen who had been minister for 4 days.

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.

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. At the conference, he was one of a number of high-profile ANC leaders to lose their seats on the NEC.

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

Awards

Honorary degrees

• University of South Africa, Honorary Doctor of Commerce, May 2007
• University of Cape Town, Doctor of Law (honoris causa), June 2007
• Central University of Technology, Doctor of Technology (honoris causa), March 2009
• Sunday Times Business Leader of the Year, November 2016
• Henley Business School (University of Reading, UK), Doctor of Business Administration (honoris causa), November 2018