APA-Johannesburg (South Africa) South Africa’s former deputy foreign minister Aziz Pahad died on Wednesday evening at his Johannesburg home at the age of 82, his family confirmed on Thursday.
The family said in a statement that Pahad passed away peacefully while surrounded by close family members.
Pahad was deputy foreign minister from 1994 to 2008, and during this period he also served as a lawmaker in the National Assembly.
He left South Africa for exile shortly after the Rivonia trial in the early 1960s which saw struggle icons – including Nelson Mandela, Govan Mbeki and Walter Sisulu – sentenced to life imprisonment for their political activism.
A struggle icon of the liberation movement, Pahad returned to South Africa from exile in 1990 and was assigned to be the deputy head of the ruling African National Congress (ANC)’ Department of International Affairs a year later.
Meanwhile, the ANC has expressed its deepest condolences to the Pahad family.
“Pahad is remembered as a dedicated patriot, freedom fighter, and unwavering servant of the people throughout his lifetime,” the party said in a statement.
He is survived by his wife, Angina, a brother, children and a granddaughter.
NM/jn/APA