The news of Pahad’s passing was confirmed on Thursday morning by his children.
“It is with a heavy heart that we bring the news of the passing of our beloved father. He peacefully left us in his sleep earlier today. He was not only a renowned figure in politics but also a loving brother, father and grandfather. Unfortunately, he has been battling stage 4 cancer recently and succumbed to the illness,” the family said in a statement.
Pahad served his term as Minister in Presidency from 1999 to 2008 under the administration of former president Thabo Mbeki. He was also an integral part of the national executive committee of the ANC from 1994 until 2007.
During exile, Pahad contributed immensely to the leadership of the ANC and The SACP. He was arrested by the apartheid government in connection with the illegal strike he helped organised, and was also banned from the country.
President Cyril Ramaphosa also expressed his condolences to the late stalwart’s friends, as well as his family.
“We mourn the passing of our struggle veteran, 65 years he took his revolutionary step of becoming a member of the Transvaal Indian Congress. Security crackdowns, banning and exile shaped Essop Pahad’s contribution over the last decades to our struggle, and as Parliamentary counsellor to former president Thabo Mbeki and Minister in Presidency, to the early design and impact of our democratic state,” said Ramaphosa.
Pahad will be buried on Thursday. The family has finalised the details of his funeral.