Programme Director, the Gordhan family, President Cyril Ramaphosa,

Leadership of government, the Alliance Partners, comrades and friends,

We pay tribute to a proud son of the nation, a stalwart of the liberation struggle.  Whilst we mourn with the Gordhan family we celebrate a life in service of the people.

Life is a journey of choices, comrade PG from his days as a student activist was clear that his life would be dedicated not only to his community in Durban, but the entire nation.  Every waking moment was at the disposal of the liberation movement.  Our people will continue to be the beneficiaries of his relentless commitments.

PG could have led a comfortable life, he chose liberation.  When confronted by detention and torture that today’s peace time heroes cannot imagine, he did not waiver.

When asked to serve, he proved a formidable organiser for the ANC, SACP and the real Umkhonto we Sizwe.  He helped craft the progressive Constitution that compels the state to uplift the poor in pursuit of a non-racial, non-sexist democratic South Africa.

He was amongst the first to serve in the democratic Parliament where ideas not slogans were debated and solutions in favour of the working-class set-in law.

PG’s most enduring legacy is the world class SARS he helped build.  It is this SARS that has been the corner stone of the entire transformation agenda that sees 60% of the state budget invested in working class communities.

Now there’s 27 million receiving social relief, free basic education with meals, NSFAS funding thousands of tertiary students, more than 4 million RDP homes, subsidised public transport, the rolling out of water and electricity to millions; that is cde. PG’s legacy.

PG was not dogmatic.  When the world was hit by the 2008 global economic crisis, he helped lead a bold stimulus package to stablise the economy, saving millions of jobs.

None imagined the decade of corruption. When some entrusted to lead chose to betray the nation, comrade PG stood up and defied the forces of state capture.

In his final chapter, he once again accepted the call to serve, helping lead Eskom, SAA, Transnet and other SOEs from the precipice of implosion.  Today the economy is freed from the most difficult chapter of loadshedding.  SAA is once more flying.

PG was not perfect.  None of us are but no sober person can doubt the integrity, courage and commitment that guided PG.  He did not seek popularity; he sought to defend the Constitution and serve the people.

When some said the state’s developmental role must be abandoned, PG defended it.  When workers feared for their jobs in our SOEs, PG was available to find solutions. 

With PG you knew where you stood.  He spoke his heart.  He pushed all of us to do more and do better.  Just as he pushed himself.

To the Gordhan family, thank you for sharing your son, husband, father and uncle with the liberation movement and the nation.  We are grateful to have walked this journey with such a distinguished veteran as PG.  The nation is forever indebted for his service.

Hamba kahle Mkhonto, qawe lama qawe!