Cape Town — The South African Communist Party (SACP) spokesperson, Alex Mashilo, has shared the last conversation he had with former Minister, Pravin Gordhan.
Gordhan passed away last week aged 75 after a short battle with cancer. He has been remembered fondly by current and former African National Congress (ANC) members for his years of dedication and service to South Africa.
Speaking during a memorial service at Johannesburg City Hall, Mashilo reflected on his last moments with Gordhan and said the two discussed the ANC’s declining numbers, showcasing Gordhan’s commitment and dedication to the party, Newzroom Afrika reported.
“I had the privilege of meeting with comrade Pravin on the day of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s inauguration. We shared a moment of deep reflection on the challenge that our movement and our country face, on the way forward,” he said after the pair had a 1-on-1 meeting.
“We were deeply worried about the electoral decline of the ANC, and its immediate and future implications for the ANC itself, for the alliance, for our country and for our continent,” he added.
SACP spokesperson Dr Alex Mashilo reflects on his last
moments with Pravin Gordhan during the recent elections where they discussed issues behind the decline in electoral numbers. Mashilo highlights Gordhan’s dedication and commitment, even in his final
days. #Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/Iy2MF3rO5M— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) September 17, 2024
Mashilo said that when a leading movement such as the ANC experiences a rise and fall cycle, there is a serious and deep challenge going on.
“I’m talking about the ANC, a movement that rose to power through popular support, when such a movement is on that upcycle of a fall, and we have difficulty on how to turn it around, you must know we are facing a serious challenge,” he said.
According to TimesLIVE, Mashilo also praised Gordhan for his work during his time in charge of the South African Revenue Services (SARS).
Mashilo said Gordhan did a stellar job and handled his role as SARS Commissioner, from 1999 to 2009, very well.
“When you are there, you are dealing with big thugs. You are dealing with big criminals. He was never disappointed. He handled the task very very well. These cigarette smugglers who were smuggling cigarettes, he dealt with them head-on. Until they sponsored certain political parties which rose against the ANC.SARS became a formidable institution in our democracy and its history can never be mentioned without mentioning his name,” he said.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
