'Do not panic'

2008-09-23 14:45

Johannesburg - Outgoing Finance Minister Trevor Manuel is willing to "serve the new [ANC] administration in whatever capacity," his spokesperson said on Tuesday.

"We are asking people not to panic about his announcement," Thoraya Pandy told the SABC.

Manuel had been "duty-bound" to resign, given the resignation of President Thabo Mbeki, his office said on Tuesday.

However, both he and his Deputy Minister Jabu Moleketi were "ready to serve" a new administration, ministerial spokesperson Thoraya Pandy said.

Pandy confirmed that Manuel and Moleketi had tendered their resignations.

"They are both appointed by the President of the Republic to serve the country and are duty-bound to resign given the resignation of Thabo Mbeki," she said.

ANC nominated Kgalema Motlanthe

"They both however want to make it clear that they are ready to serve the new administration in any capacity that the incoming president deems fit."

The ANC has nominated its deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe as caretaker president, but this has yet to be voted on in the National Assembly.

Mbeki's letter of resignation was received by the National Assembly on Sunday, after the ANC's announcement on Saturday that it was recalling him.

The move followed the Pietermaritzburg High Court's finding that the National Prosecuting Authority's prosecution of ANC president Jacob Zuma was invalid.

In his judgment, Justice Chris Nicholson found that Zuma might not have been incorrect in "averring political meddling in his prosecution".

The court suggested that Mbeki may have been behind a political plot against Zuma.

Apart from Manuel, the ministers who have resigned are: Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad; and the Ministers of defence, Mosiuoa Lekota; intelligence, Ronnie Kasrils; correctional services, Ngconde Balfour; public enterprises, Alec Erwin; science and technology, Mosibudi Mangena; public works, Thoko Didiza; provincial and local government, Sydney Mufamadi; and public service and administration, Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi.

The deputy ministers who resigned, other than Moleketi are those of: foreign affairs, Aziz Pahad; and correctional services, Loretta Jacobus.

- SAPA