STATEMENT ISSUED BY MS. THORAYA PANDY, SPOKESPERSON FOR MR. TREVOR MANUEL

The Minister of Finance, Mr. Trevor Manuel, and the Deputy Minister, Mr. Jabu Moleketi, together with several other ministers and deputy ministers, have resigned.

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.

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.

Statement issued by The Treasury, September 23 2008