Pravin Gordhan to speak at Ahmed Kathrada’s memorial

Former finance minister likely to address President Zuma and downgrade to junk status

Former Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan. Photo: Ashraf Hendricks

By Trevor Bohatch

4 April 2017

Sources close to former finance minister Pravin Gordhan have confirmed today that he will speak at Ahmed Kathrada’s memorial service in Cape Town on Thursday.

The service, to be held at Saint George’s Cathedral, comes a week and a half after the ANC stalwart’s death on 28 March, and a week since President Jacob Zuma’s cabinet reshuffle on 30 March.

“This gathering is a moment for civil society and Cape Town residents to organise and adopt a program for mass action. We demand that Parliament is recalled, and that it tables a vote of no confidence against President Zuma. We demand that the nuclear deal is scrapped,” organisers said in a WhatsApp message earlier today.

Kathrada’s service will be held from 2pm to 3:30pm. It is supported by the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation.

Endorsing organizations include:

• Anglican Church of Southern Africa
• Alternative Information and Development Centre
• Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution
• Equal Education
• Ndifuna Ukwazi
• People’s Health Movement
• Reclaim the City
• Right2Know
• Save SA
• Section 27
• Social Justice Coalition
• Sonke Gender Justice
• South Africa First Forum
• Treatment Action Campaign