Manuel says ANC race won’t change policy

JOHANNESBURG – South African economic policy is unlikely to change after the ruling ANC elects a new leader in December, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel said on Friday.

“I am pretty sure policies will remain,” he told journalists and business leaders at a breakfast function. “I don’t see that there is going to be very substantial change in that, regardless of who the personality is there,” Manuel said, when asked if he had concerns about any candidate.South Africa’s ruling African National Congress will choose its next leader at a congress in December in a race that has sparked some of the worst infighting in its history.The contest is currently focused on incumbent party and state President Thabo Mbeki and his rival Jacob Zuma, although powerful businessmen Tokyo Sexwale and Cyril Ramaphosa are seen as possible contenders.The winner of the December election will almost certainly step up to the national presidency, given the ANC’s stranglehold on South African politics.Zuma, a popular but controversial politician, is backed by trade unions and the ruling party’s communist allies, raising fears among investors and the business communities that he may shift away from market-friendly policies.Analysts say Zuma has embarked on a charm offensive with investors seeking to ease concerns about any policies he would pursue if he becomes the ANC’s new leader.Manuel, finance minister during the country’s longest ever economic boom, said the media emphasis on personalities did not fit with ANC traditions, in which policies were set collectively.”The emphasis on personality is less important,” he said, before repeating a comment made by Zuma that economic policies were not owned by any one person.”I don’t have fears about personalities and policies,” he added.Mbeki – who sacked Zuma as his national deputy in 2005 after he was implicated in a corruption scandal – cannot stand for another term as the country’s leader in 2009 when his current stint ends, but as ANC president he will retain clout.Despite Zuma’s attempts to reassure investors, a tainted image and the vociferous support from labour and communists continue to worry the business community.The popular politician could be charged again in an arms sales investigation, which his supporters say is a smear campaign by his opponents designed to discredit him.An original graft case collapsed and Zuma was acquitted in a separate rape trial.Nampa-Reuters”I don’t see that there is going to be very substantial change in that, regardless of who the personality is there,” Manuel said, when asked if he had concerns about any candidate.South Africa’s ruling African National Congress will choose its next leader at a congress in December in a race that has sparked some of the worst infighting in its history.The contest is currently focused on incumbent party and state President Thabo Mbeki and his rival Jacob Zuma, although powerful businessmen Tokyo Sexwale and Cyril Ramaphosa are seen as possible contenders.The winner of the December election will almost certainly step up to the national presidency, given the ANC’s stranglehold on South African politics.Zuma, a popular but controversial politician, is backed by trade unions and the ruling party’s communist allies, raising fears among investors and the business communities that he may shift away from market-friendly policies.Analysts say Zuma has embarked on a charm offensive with investors seeking to ease concerns about any policies he would pursue if he becomes the ANC’s new leader.Manuel, finance minister during the country’s longest ever economic boom, said the media emphasis on personalities did not fit with ANC traditions, in which policies were set collectively.”The emphasis on personality is less important,” he said, before repeating a comment made by Zuma that economic policies were not owned by any one person.”I don’t have fears about personalities and policies,” he added.Mbeki – who sacked Zuma as his national deputy in 2005 after he was implicated in a corruption scandal – cannot stand for another term as the country’s leader in 2009 when his current stint ends, but as ANC president he will retain clout.Despite Zuma’s attempts to reassure investors, a tainted image and the vociferous support from labour and communists continue to worry the business community.The popular politician could be charged again in an arms sales investigation, which his supporters say is a smear campaign by his opponents designed to discredit him.An original graft case collapsed and Zuma was acquitted in a separate rape trial.Nampa-Reuters