The African National Congress (ANC) secretary general, Fikile Mbalula, has criticised individuals who have been damaging the reputation of late public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan, calling them vile.
Mbalula said this on Sunday during a memorial service for Gordhan hosted by the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation. The memorial service was held in Johannesburg City Hall.
Gordhan, died on September 13, 2024, at 75 years old after a brief battle with illness.
Following his passing, several politicians extended their condolences to Gordhan’s family and praised him for influencing the country’s political environment and leadership.
However, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) said Gordhan died before he could face punishment.
“Gordhan left a legacy of failure, exploitation, and corruption. May we never let another Pravin Gordhan rise again,” the party stated.
The EFF claimed that Gordhan represented greed, corruption, and elitism.
The party stated that it will not shed a tear for Gordhan or celebrate the “false legacies created by his apologists.”
“He will be remembered for his role in stifling the growth of our nation, destroying the hopes of millions, and enabling the collapse of our state entities.”
Meanwhile, in response to the EFF’s comments about Gordhan’s death, Mbalula criticised the party for destroying his reputation and labelled the party’s stance as evil.
According to Mbalula, in order to accomplish their objectives, people advocated misconceptions about Gordhan.
“Not only was his shameful and morally repulsive, but it is also downright evil.”
The EFF, which has expressed disapproval and stated that it will not mourn Gordhan’s passing, was obviously the target of Mbalula’s remarks.
“This is the kind of conduct that society must eschew and respect with the contempt it deserves. As a society, our moral values and culture frown against speaking ill of the deceased. Yet, scoundrels who have no inclination to meet moral values dared tarnish a man who risked his life for the common good of our nation. We must therefore uphold this value at all times and lambast those whose conduct is at odds.”
Mbalula claimed Gordhan was capable of defending himself, and he did so while still alive.
He claimed that a lot of people watched Gordhan when he was doing well, but none of them bravely spoke up to support him in his difficult work.
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