Gordhan, who is the first current ANC leader to come out in support of the Constitutional Court ruling against President Jacob Zuma, said the ruling restored confidence in the rule of law.
This differed from ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe and chairwoman Baleka Mbete who both came out in support of Zuma but accepted the ruling.
Gordhan was speaking during the funeral of former Umkhonto weSizwe member and Robben Islander Shirish Nanabhai in Lenasia, south of Johannesburg, yesterday.
“The recent developments, including the Constitutional Court judgment, is a testimony to the vibrancy of our constitutional democracy and we should all be proud of it,” he said.
Gordhan called on South Africans to summon and emulate the courage of anti-apartheid heroes to fight a new battle – against corruption.
“They fought against apartheid, we are building a democracy. We are fighting corruption and capture. To develop this courage and spirit of sacrifice of that generation requires [the] same volume of discipline,” he said.
Gordhan said political leaders were quick to remember the values of those who fought for freedom but failed to emulate them.
“One of the problems is that we remember these lessons, but when we go back and get involved in one form of political life those lessons often disappear,” Gordhan said.
He said Shirish’s generation were unlike the current crop.
“Shirish and his generation set themselves higher values without which they could not prosecute the struggle. These were values of sacrifice and uprightness, not the hubris we see today,” Gordhan said.
He said political leaders were targeting and destroying democratic institutions for selfish ends.
“Democratic institutions and the wellbeing of our people are trampled upon in pursuit of self-aggrandisement,” Gordhan said.
Meanwhile the Hawks are investigating the so-called “rogue unit” established at SARS under Gordhan’s watch and are believed to have illegally investigated people.
Gordhan has defended the unit, saying he had no knowledge of its day-to-day running. Gordhan said many institutions were now tested through being targeted and influenced to do wrong things.
“The responsibility that all of us who are in these institutions have is to ensure that we leave them stronger, better, more morally correct and principled than we found them.
“Our task is to improve and strengthen, and not undermine or weaken them because they will outlast all of us. We will all come and go as premiers, ministers or whatever but these institutions will go on” he said.
The funeral was attended by Nanabhai’s family, some politicians and former MK soldiers. These included former intelligence minister Ronnie Kasrils and Gauteng premier David Makhura.
Makhura saluted Nanabhai for dedicating his life to the Struggle.
