Ex-minister Pravin Gordhan ‘in critical condition’ in hospital

Former minister of public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan is in a “critical condition” in hospital.

This was revealed by ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula, who visited the retired Gordhan in hospital earlier on Thursday.

His family put out a statement on Tuesday saying Gordhan had been admitted to hospital and that he was receiving the best medical care.

The family indicated that updates about his condition would be relayed but requested “privacy during this difficult time”.

Pravin Gordhan: Health update

Mbalula, speaking to the media at Luthuli House, said Gordhan was surrounded by friends, family and comrades in hospital, and asked South Africans to keep him in in their prayers.

Mbalula also urged people to stop sharing “unverified information” about Gordhan’s condition, after fake reports of the former ANC parliamentarian’s death circulated on social media.

Outside Parliament in Cape Town, President Cyril Ramaphosa also wished the family of his “friend and comrade” strength.

Pravin Gordhan’s health is of “great concern to all of us”, Ramaphosa said.

Night vigil for Pravin Gordhan

On Wednesday evening, people gathered at Constitutional Hill in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, for vigil in support and honour of Gordhan.

The vigil, organised the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, Johannesburg Against Justice and Defend Our Democracy, brought together friends and activist who spoke highly of Gordhan’s contribution to South Africa.

Former ambassador to the US, Sheila Sisulu, said Gordhan’s working in reforming SA’s institutions would always be remembered.

“When he joined the government, he didn’t work at SARS [South African Revenue Service]. He fixed SARS and made it work. It was later that it was virtually destroyed,” Sisulu said.

Retirement

Gordhan, 75, announced in March 2024 that he would not be returning to the seventh administration after the 29 May elections, telling Business Day that he wanted to focus on his health and family.

Gordhan has served in various roles in government, first coming to prominence when he was appointed commissioner of SARS in 1999.

He served in that capacity until 2009, when he was appointed minister of finance by then-president Jacob Zuma.

Gordhan’s other ministerial roles:

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

Before his stint at Public Enterprises, Gordhan was regularly hailed as having prevented a lot State Capture machinations at Treasury while he was finance minister.

He was also lauded for standing up to Zuma and resisting pressure from the Gupta family, when they tried (and eventually succeeded) in subverting multiple state-owned agencies.