ON a cloudy September day in Durban, the heavens opened up, as if nature itself was paying tribute to a fallen hero. Pravin Jamnadas Gordhan, the anti-apartheid icon, former cabinet minister, and relentless anti-corruption crusader, was being laid to rest. But in the gentle patter of raindrops, there was no sorrow – only whispers of renewal and rebirth.
As mourners gathered outside the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, their umbrellas a sea of colors against the grey sky, the rain seemed to embody the very essence of Gordhan’s life and legacy. Each droplet, according to Hindu belief, represented a soul being reborn – a fitting metaphor for a man whose life had been dedicated to the rebirth of a nation.
The air was thick with emotion as Gordhan’s daughters Anisha and Priyesha stepped forward, one after the other, to speak. Their voices, steady despite the weight of loss, painted a picture not just of a national hero, but of an amazing father. She spoke of bedtime stories filled with dreams of equality, of a man who fought giants in the political arena but always had time for a tender hug at home.
Before her, Gordhan’s former deputy – Mcebisi Jonas took the podium and described the former Minister as ”an extraordinary human being.” “He showed us that true strength lies not in wielding power, but in the courage to stand up against it when it becomes corrupt.”
The South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s tribute echoed across the gathering, his words painting a vivid portrait of a man who had weathered storms far greater than the one now blessing his final journey. He spoke of Gordhan’s humble beginnings, his unwavering commitment to justice, and his pivotal role in shaping the rainbow nation’s destiny.
“Pravin Gordhan joined the struggle at a young age,” the President intoned, his voice strong against the backdrop of falling rain. “He knew the cost of struggle. His activism earned him arrests, beatings, and detention. He knew the perils of underground work.”
As the eulogy continued, the rain seemed to listen, its rhythm changing with the cadence of the words. It fell softly as the President spoke of Gordhan’s quiet determination, then grew more insistent as he recounted the battles fought against state capture and corruption.
“During one of the most painful chapters in our democratic history,” the President’s voice rose, matching the intensity of the downpour, “as the state was being looted by the powerful and connected, he chose to resist. Using all means at his disposal, he worked to thwart the capture of the state.”
The crowd stood silent, rain mingling with tears, as they remembered the vicious attacks Gordhan had endured in his final years. Yet, like the steadfast oak that bends but does not break in the storm, Gordhan had stood firm, his integrity unshaken.
As the ceremony drew to a close, a remarkable thing happened. The rain, which had been a constant companion throughout, began to ease. Sunlight, golden and warm, broke through the clouds, casting a rainbow across the sky – a final salute to a man who had given his all for the rainbow nation.
In that moment, as the sun’s rays touched the rain-soaked earth, one could almost hear the whisper of new life stirring. It was as if Pravin Gordhan, even in death, was nurturing the seeds of hope he had spent a lifetime planting.
The funeral of Pravin Gordhan was not an end, but a beginning. Each person who stood there, clothes damp but spirits ignited, carried with them a piece of his legacy. They left not in sorrow, but with a renewed commitment to the ideals he had championed.
As the last mourners departed, the rainbow still arched overhead, a brilliant reminder of the dream Gordhan had fought for. And in the puddles left behind by the cleansing rain, one could see reflections of a future bright with possibility – a future that Pravin Gordhan had given everything to secure.
