Gordhan was 'steadfast' in fight against state capture - Mac Maharaj

DURBAN - Former Transport Minister Mac Maharaj has remembered the late Pravin Gordhan as an incorruptible and goal-driven leader.
 
Maharaj, who was Gordhan's close friend, spoke at his funeral service at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre on Thursday.

LIVE BLOG: The funeral of Former Minister Pravin Gordhan
 
He said that without Gordhan's contributions to fighting state capture, South Africa's state institutions would have long collapsed.
 
"Pravin remained steadfast, but he found himself in a lonely place in the fightback against state capture within the ANC and the alliance. A few, like Derek Hanerkom, stood up. Some, who shared his concern, stayed silent. Others found rein to defend the indefensible."
 
Anti-apartheid activist, Ella Ghandi, reflected on the last meeting she had with the former public enterprise minister two weeks before his death.  

"He went on to warn that we must further draw a clear line between public funds and resources and private resources. Public funds must be spent to improve the standard of living of the poor. Yet, what we have is a plethora of extractors, particularly at a local level. This is what Pravin said at that meeting, these were possibly his last words of wisdom to us all."

CANCER DIAGNOSIS

Former Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas reflected on the moment when the late Gordhan revealed his cancer diagnosis. 

Jonas, one of Gordhan's close friends, also spoke at his funeral service in Durban. 

He said that the former public enterprises minister appeared to have come to terms with the reality of his mortality.

"One of the things that really bothered me the day PG came to our office to tell us that he had just been diagnosed with cancer. The people around me were all crying and I was trying to hold back the tears but PG was so forthcoming in telling me what should happen in the little time he had."

He said that Gordhan was very clear about the seriousness of his condition.

"He was very clear that the prognosis was bad and he only had three months at the time to live. Of course, he lived less than three months. In a couple of weeks, he was already in ICU. We went into the ICU to talk to PG consistently. One of the things that marked PG’s bravery, was when we went into his ICU ward, he said to us that the ending is near and there is no turning back."