Trevor Manuel has apparently offered to continue his services as minister of finance when the new administration comes into power after the 22 April national elections.
Manuel is already one of the longest serving finance ministers in the world and also one of the most popular and well respected. His policies are considered to be generally sound and have encouraged foreign investment into South Africa. There was some debate as to whether or not he would continue on in his position after he tendered his resignation following the ousting of former president Thabo Mbeki but the matter was soon cleared up and it seems he is willing to do so.
Trevor Manuel has served as finance minister since 1996 and under his guidance the country reported its first budget surplus in 2007. He has been a political activist in his time and was also detained by the apartheid government at various times during the 1980’s. He is currently married to Maria Ramos, Absa group chief executive officer. His relationship with her was publicly scrutinised due to concerns over favorable treatment or tax advantages being given to the ABSA group. Those concerns seem to have faded over the past months.
Whether or not Mr Manuel continues on in his position the country is in desperate need of a forward thinking finance minister that can aid the country in making a speedy recovery from the current global slump the world is bogged down in.
