South Africa’s former finance minister, Pravin Gordhan, has died at the age of 75, his family said.

The anti-apartheid veteran has been in South African politics since 1994 when the country was transitioning to democracy.

He occupied strategic positions in the South African government until he announced his retirement from politics in May.

The veteran cabinet minister died early Friday in hospital after “a short, courageous battle with cancer”, his family said in a statement.

It added that he was “surrounded by his family, closest friends and his lifelong comrades in the liberation struggle” when he passed away in the early hours this morning”.

He is survived by his wife Vanitha and their daughters Anisha and Priyesha.

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