President Jacob Zuma President Jacob Zuma Preceded by David van Rooyen Preceded by Lechesa Tsenoli | President Jacob Zuma Name Pravin Gordhan Preceded by Trevor Manuel Succeeded by Nhlanhla Nene | |
Role South African Minister of Finance Education University of Durban-Westville Office Minister of Finance since 2015 Political party South African Communist Party, African National Congress Previous offices Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (2014–2015) Similar People Jacob Zuma, Nkosazana Dlamini‑Zuma, Oliver Tambo, Nelson Mandela, John Langalibalele Dube | ||
Pravin gordhan re instated as s a s minister of finance
Pravin Jamnadas Gordhan (born 12 April 1949) is a South African politician and former Minister of Finance, a position he had held from 2009-2014, and again from 2015-2017. He is also the former Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, serving from 2014–2015. Jacob Zuma replaced Gordhan on 30 March 2017, during a controversial cabinet reshuffle, with Malusi Gigaba in the light of Gordhan allegedly holding secret meetings to undermine the government during a trade trip to London.
Contents
- Pravin gordhan re instated as s a s minister of finance
- Balancing act pravin gordhan south africa s minister of finance
- Early years
- Career
- Honorary degrees
- References
Balancing act pravin gordhan south africa s minister of finance
Early years
Pravin Gordhan was born in Durban, and matriculated from Sastri College in 1967. In 1973 he graduated from the University for Durban-Westville with a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree. Gordhan became associated with members of the Natal Indian Congress (NIC) In 1971 and was elected to its executive council in 1974.
During the 1970s, Gordhan helped establish grassroots organisations that became involved in underground activities and associated with the African National Congress (ANC) and later the South African Communist Party (SACP). He completed his pharmacy internship at King Edward VIII Hospital In 1974 and worked there until 1981 when the Natal Provincial Administration dismissed him for his political activities while he was in detention. He was released from jail in 1982 and received banning orders effective until June 1983. Gordhan attended the launch of the United Democratic Front (UDF) in Cape Town 1983 where the also NIC became an affiliated organisation.
Gordhan attended the preparatory meeting for the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA) in 1991 as a joint NIC/Transvaal Indian Congress (TIC) representative, and was appointed NIC/TIC delegate to the steering committee responsible for organising Codesa 1. In 1993 he was appointed to the panel of chairpersons on the planning committee of the multi-party negotiation process.
Career
He was previously the Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service from 1999 to 2009. From 1991 and 1994, he chaired the Convention for a Democratic South Africa.
As a member of parliament from 1994 to 1998, Gordhan chaired the parliamentary committee that focused on the implementation of the new Constitution and the transformation of local government in the post-apartheid.
Gordhan was chairman of the World Customs Organization in from 2000 to 2006.
On 10 May 2009, President Jacob Zuma appointed Gordhan as Minister of Finance, succeeding Trevor Manuel. On the 25 May 2014, he was replaced by Nhlanhla Nene as Minister of Finance.
In 2014, Gordhan was appointed as the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, succeeding Lechesa Tsenoli who became Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa.
On 14 December 2015, Gordhan was re-appointed as Minister of Finance, replacing David van Rooyen who had been minister for 4 days.
On the eve of the 2016 Budget Speech, that was to be tabled on the 24th February 2016, a list of questions from the Hawks was sent to Pravin Gordhan. In total there were 27 questions around the alleged "rogue unit" at South African Revenue Service. Mr Gordhan was the SARS commissioner in 2007, when the so-called rogue unit was set up. He has maintained that it was above board and had ministerial approval. Many questioned the timing of the questions sent including Gwede Mantashe, the Secretary General of the African National Congress. Pravin Gordhan himself was baffled by the questions, having the following to say "Once again, the Hawks and those who instruct them, have no regard for the economic and social welfare of millions". He then sent a letter to the Hawks through his department that he would be unable to meet the deadline imposed. The letter from his office stated that "He will respond in due course, once he has properly examined the questions and ascertained what information, of the information you request, he is able to provide". He also wanted to know of what authority the Hawks are asking these questions of him. On the 30th March 2016, he replied to the questions put to him by the Hawks. Mr Gordhan was quoted as saying, “I believe this was meant to intimidate and distract us from the work we had to do in preparing the 2016 Budget".
In October 2016, South Africa state prosecutor levied fraud charges against Gordhan for allowing a former colleague at the South African Revenue Service to take early retirement and then re-hiring them as a consultant. Charges were dropped few days later.