/ 23 May 2008

Pahad decides to throw in the towel

Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad will not be available to serve in public office after next year's elections, a media report said on Friday. Pahad is the latest government figure to announce his intentions after Public Enterprises Minister Alec Erwin went public about his resignation, also planned for after next year's elections.

Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad will not be available to serve in public office after next year’s elections, Business Day reported on Friday.

Pahad is the latest government figure to announce his intentions after Public Enterprises Minister Alec Erwin went public about his resignation, also planned for after next year’s elections.

Pahad did not make it on to the African National Congress national executive committee (NEC) at the party’s elective conference last December.

The announcement comes ahead of the ANC’s three-day NEC meeting, which starts on Friday.

Erwin told the media that his decision to resign ”was taken long before the change in African National Congress leadership”.

Erwin is seen as a member of President Thabo Mbeki’s inner circle.

His departure will raise a question mark over the future of other leading members of the economics ”dream team”, especially Finance Minister Trevor Manuel. – Sapa