Trevor Manuel

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Trevor Andrew Manuel
Minister of Finance
Incumbent
Assumed office  1996
Preceded by	Chris Liebenberg
Born	January 31, 1956 (1956-01-31) (age 52) Kensington, Cape Town, South Africa
Political party	African National Congress

Trevor Andrew Manuel (born 31 January 1956) is currently South Africa's Minister of Finance. He has held the post since 1996, making him one of the country's longest-serving finance ministers.

Early life

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.

Public life

Manuel entered public life in 1981 as the General Secretary of the Cape Areas Housing Action Committee, after which he became a National Executive member of the United Democratic Front (UDF). In September 1985 Manuel was detained and then banned until 31 August 1990. However, Manuel's ban was lifted on 25 March 1986 after it was ruled that it was not in line with the provisions of the Internal Security Act. On 15 August 1986 Manuel was again detained under the emergency regulations for almost two years until July 1988. He was released from detention under severe restrictions but promptly detained again in September 1988, this time until February 1989. His release came with stringent restriction orders.

Post-apartheid

After the unbanning of the African National Congress (ANC) Manuel was appointed deputy co-ordinator in the Western Cape Province. At the ANC's first regional conference in 1990 Manuel was elected publicity secretary. At the ANC's 1991 national conference Manuel was elected to the National Executive Committee. In 1992 Manuel became head of the ANC's Department of Economic Planning. Manuel was elected as an ANC Member of Parliament in 1994 and was appointed by President Nelson Mandela as Minister of Trade and Industry, and in 1996 as Minister of Finance.

The World Economic Forum selected Manuel as a "Global Leader for Tomorrow" in 1994, and he has received numerous international awards and recognition for his accomplishments. He is regarded highly by a broad section of the South African public and is widely viewed as one of the most competent South African ministers.^[who?]

South Africa reported its first budget surplus in 2007. A combination of increased prosperity, high commodity prices and a wider tax base were credited with the surge of revenue. Manuel increased spending for education, housing and sanitation.

In the 2002 election to the ANC's National Executive Committee, Manuel placed first. At the ANC conference in Polokwane in December 2007, he was again elected to the National Executive Committee, this time in 57th place with 1,590 votes.^[1] In April 2008 Manuel was announced chancellor of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology.

Resignation and re-appointment

On September 23, 2008, Trevor Manuel resigned as Finance Minister along with a number of other cabinet members after the resignation of President Thabo Mbeki, unsettling the financial market, but it was subsequently announced that he would be willing to continue to serve under the next president. Manuel explained the resignation as a principled gesture, and he expressed surprise at the market's reaction.^[2] He was retained in his post in the cabinet of Mbeki's successor, Kgalema Motlanthe, which was announced on September 25.^[3]

References

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