Minister Pravin Gordhan of South Africa was an Activist Against Apartheid

After starting his political career as an opponent of apartheid, Pravin Gordhan served as a minister in the South African government for many years. He passed away on Friday.

With cancer, he was 75 years old.

Longtime ANC member Gordhan announced his retirement from active politics following the May elections, the first time the party has lost its legislative majority since taking office in 1994.

Following his hospitalization this week, his family released a statement early on Friday stating, “Mr. Gordhan passed away peacefully in hospital surrounded by his family, closest friends, and his long-time comrades in the liberation struggle in the early hours of this morning.”

President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a statement, “We have lost an outstanding leader whose unassuming persona belied the depth of intellect, integrity and energy with which he undertook his activism, his duty as a parliamentarian and his roles as a member of Cabinet.”

Since his adolescent years, Gordhan has been involved in politics. In the 1980s, he joined the ANC’s clandestine organizations and joined the fight against the racist and oppressive apartheid government.