'It's not about Manuel'

Wed, 08 Oct 2008

Finance Minister Trevor Manuel's resignation which he later retracted caused such havoc on the markets because people always held a finance minister in high esteem, said ANC president Jacob Zuma in Sandton on Tuesday.

"I think it is in the nature of the markets that finance ministers have assumed great importance in our country and not only in our country," said Zuma at a briefing with black business.

"I think Trevor really is no exception. That is what happens... not because it's Trevor. Any minister put [in that position] will be the same. People look up to them."

"That's why ministers should know how to carry themselves," said Zuma.

Zuma said when it came to cabinet ministers who recently resigned in solidarity with former president Thabo Mbeki, "We were disappointed by their decision but respect their personal choices.

"We remind them that the ANC is their home."

Zuma said all ANC members were equal.

"No one is bigger than the ANC," he said.

Zuma said the recent decision to recall Mbeki was painful.

"Such a decision can never be pleasant but had to be taken in the interest of allowing the country and the ANC to move forward."

He said the party had noted the criticism of Archbishop Desmond Tutu who recently said he would not vote in the current elections unless something changed in SA's political landscape.

"As the ANC we respect the elders of our nation and do not take their views lightly."

Zuma said the party had decided to engage with Tutu to clarify any issues he would like to have addressed.

"We are puzzled as to why he wants to deny himself the right to vote, which was earned through the blood, sweat and tears of our people and which he himself campaigned tirelessly for.

"We hope our engagement would take us a step forward constructively and in a dignified manner."

Zuma said despite the recent change in government, there would not be dramatic changes to policies in the new term.

"Policy is decided upon and is shaped by successive ANC policy and national elective conferences. There is no individual that will come with his own policies.

"However, individuals deployed in certain stations are welcome to enhance the implementation of policies".

Zuma said it was to the credit of South Africa that it handled the recent changes in a "smooth and hassle-free manner".

"We have a mature democracy that is able to guide itself in a situation that in other countries would have caused a big hurt."

He also criticised the media's portrayal of the recent government handover.

Calling the media those "who don't ask questions for clarity, who just state what they think as fact", he said not enough emphasis was put on Mbeki's reaction to being recalled.

Zuma said Mbeki had reacted to the recall by saying; "'As a cadre of the ANC I'm ready to abide' and indeed he abided.

"Nobody said what a wonderful organisation to produce such cadres and leaders."

Zuma also said it was important to emphasis that the National Executive Committee had debated for about 14 hours before taking the decision to recall Mbeki.

"This showed that the ANC was the "best democratic organisation in the country, he said,

"It's so wonderful to be in this organisation, you don't know".

Zuma said he wanted to reiterate both in his personal capacity and on behalf of the ANC that it fully believed in the rule of law, the judiciary's independence and the separation of power between the legislature, executive and the judiciary.

"Let there be no confusion around this matter. We have never asked for a subservient judiciary.

"At the same time we reserve our right to voice our concerns in a manner that is fair and just.

"That should not be misconstrued as undermining democratic institutions."

Zuma said the ANC was "upbeat" about the forthcoming elections.

"Nothing will deter us to go all out to say to the voters we believe we have tried our best. Give us another overwhelming majority for us to improve our record even further."

Speaking at the same event, ANC Treasurer-General Mathews Phosa said the ANC acknowledged some of the "wrong things" the Youth League had said.

He said people who might have heard YL president Julius Malema speak on Monday would see "Malema has been to Damascus. He spoke very well".

"In house we talking about those things very frankly, We don't pull punches. What we will not do is stand naked among the wolves in public," he said.