Mourners start gathering in Durban ahead of Gordhan’s funeral

Mourners are making their way to the Albert Luthuli Convention Centre in Durban for the funeral of the former Public Enterprises Minister and African National Congress (ANC) struggle veteran Pravin Gordhan.

He died in a Johannesburg hospital last week at the age of 75 after a battle with cancer.

Gordhan will be cremated in a private ceremony later this afternoon.

President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver the eulogy at Gordhan’s Special Official Funeral Category 2.

In the video below, Deputy National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General, Tebello Mosikili, explains the order of proceedings:

Tributes by colleagues

Chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, says Gordhan’s death is a great loss to both his family and the country.

Dhlomo reflects on Gordhan’s contribution to the underground movement during the struggle:

 

Public Works and Infrastructure Deputy Minister Sihle Zikalala says Gordhan shared the vision of building a non-racial and non-sexist South Africa.

“Comrade Pravin came from a generation of appreciated the need to build a united non-racial, non-sexist, prosperous South Africa. So, the common vision about the South Africa we want to build we always agreed on that vision – it was a vision of a united country non-sexist (and) democratic (society) where all people have (the) possibility and the potential to prosper.

Sihle Zikalala remembers Gordhan:

Meanwhile, the later minister’s close friend, Judge Thumba Pillay, says the country needs more people like Gordhan.

“I can’t imagine being filled with the likes of Pravin Gordhan because he was someone who didn’t suffer, he was honest at fault I think he will be missed greatly.”

Judge Thumba Pillay on Gordhan:

-Additional reporting by SABC News