Manuel plays cards close to his chest

Finance Minister Trevor Manuel played his cards close to his chest on Wednesday when questioned about his future during a media conference before his delivery of the national budget in Parliament.

“I have said in the past that I serve.

I can’t say what will happen,” said Manuel, noting that elections take place next year. He indicated that this decision is out of his hands and needs to be made by the African National Congress government.

“Whatever may be, I have had an immensely wonderful set of opportunities,” he added.

Deputy Minister of Finance Jabu Moleketi was not present during the budget conference on Wednesday and Manuel explained that he had been sent overseas by President Thabo Mbeki to speak to foreign investors and discuss fiscal policy with them.

Manuel was born on January 31 1956 and has been finance minister since 1996, making him one of the country’s longest-serving finance ministers.

He was born in Kensington, Cape Town, to a civil servant, and grew up and was educated in the city. He matriculated in 1973 and studied civil and structural engineering, and later—during his detention—also law.

South Africa reported its first budget surplus in 2007.

Manuel has been mentioned as a potential candidate for the 2009 presidential election.

In the 2002 election to the ANC’s national executive committee, Manuel placed first. In December 2007, he was again elected to the committee, this time in 57th place with 1 590 votes.

ANC president Jacob Zuma has indicated that there are no plans to replace Manuel.—I-Net Bridge