Gordhan stood firm against corruption in govt - ANC's Mbalula

PRETORIA - African National Congress (ANC) Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula said that the late former Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan stood firm against graft within government. 

Mbalula was speaking outside Gordhan’s Pretoria home, where he was joined by ANC officials from various spheres of government to pay their respects. 

Gordhan died in the early hours of Friday morning, aged 75, in a Johannesburg hospital after a short battle with cancer.

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Mbalula was unapologetic in his defence of the former Public Enterprises minister, stating that those who were spewing what he termed hate, were complicit in state capture and tainted by corruption. 

His comments followed hundreds of social media posts decrying Gordhan’s attempts to privatise state-owned entities and the Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF)'s comments surrounding the struggle stalwart’s death.

"He will be hated by people who are state capturers, he will be hated by people who are seen to be corrupt, and we don’t expect them to love him but what they cannot erase is the truth."

Although equally as vocal about his opposing stance to some of Gordhan’s policy proposals, Mbalula said that it was a time of mourning that needed all South Africans to rally behind Gordhan’s family as they mourn their loved one.