Retired Cabinet Minister Ebrahim Patel gave one of the many tributes at the funeral of former Minister Pravin Gordhan, on Thursday, where he painted a picture of a person who was dedicated to improving the lives of South Africans through policies and regulations.

Patel spoke of Gordhan’s role during the economic crisis in 2009 while he was Finance Minister, and his work to mitigate the impact on South Africans.

“He introduced countercyclical policies to support the economic recovery. He strengthened social support for those most vulnerable. He promoted employment stimulus programmes as workers lost their jobs from companies that closed their doors,” he said.

Patel also spoke of Gordhan’s role in dealing with an HIV/Aids crisis, during an economic crisis, and the increase in demand for antiretrovirals.

He noted Gordhan’s determination to find the funds for the treatment.

“…and there are hundreds of thousands of people alive today as a result of having excess to their treatment,” he said.

Patel pointed to Gordhan’s role in creating regulations to promote industrialisation and promote State procurement to purchase local products.

“We were early adopters of a set of policies that subsequently were implemented by many countries. It helped to stimulate businesses and carry jobs for young people. Though these policies faced legal challenges subsequently, they have now been embedded in the new Procurement Act recently passed by Parliament and assented to by the President,” he said.

He stressed that Gordhan was instrumental in saving local jobs in the steel, textile and other sectors, as well as supporting small businesses.

In highlighting the struggles he faced during the State capture years, Patel said Gordhan’s fight against corruption was not an abstract one.

“That fight is not over, and the truest tribute to him is if we grasp that fight and make it a central part of our work going ahead. He brought to his work a mind with strategic subtlety, a heart big with courage, and a personality impatient with poor service delivery. We saw the part prevail that was warm, that was attentive, that was caring, was interested in people and their lives, and their welfare, not slogans,” he said.

Former Chief Justice Raymond Zondo revealed that Gordhan provided “enormous” support to the State capture commission providing evidence of corruption in the public service.

Zondo looked back on Gordhan’s time during former President Jacob Zuma’s presidency and reminded of the public attacks and harassment against him, for “doing his job”.

He described Gordhan as a “true public servant” and a “warrior against corruption”.