Essop Pahad’s death has left a void - Mashatile
Acting President Paul Mashatile says the passing of ANC veteran and anti-apartheid activist Essop Pahad has left a void within the governing party.
Mashatile delivered the eulogy at Pahad's funeral on behalf of President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday, due to the president being out of the country.
Pahad was laid to rest at the Westpark Cemetery on Thursday, according to Islamic funeral rites.
The former minister in the presidency died in his sleep on Wednesday night at the age of 84.
Pahad had been in retirement after serving as minister from 1999 to 2008, he was an active ANC and the South African Communist Party member during the apartheid era.
"Today we woke up to the sad news of the passing of a tried-and-tested cadre and leader of the people of South Africa, Comrade Essop Goolam Pahad,” Mashatile said.
"Essop Pahad has left a void. In his lifetime of struggle, he traversed the world to ensure that our struggle delivered victory to the ordinary masses of our people. We who remain are obliged to spare no effort to ensure that we stay the course.".
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi described Pahad as someone who made an immense contribution to the struggle against apartheid.
"What we used to cherish is no more. What we used to marvel at has left us. He was a thinker, planner, coordinator, strategist, and communicator par excellence, in him we had a leader, a patriot, an internationalist, and a revolutionary that cared about our country. His contribution was worth it to destroy apartheid and its systems."
His son Gavin Pahad said during the last days of his father's life he could not do the things that brought him the most joy.
"When his family and friends came to visit, his face would always light up. When his grandchildren would come and visit him, they would run and hug him and tell him that they loved him. He was so happy to see us as his grandchildren."
