By Peroshni Govender
JOHANNESBURG, Oct 26 (Reuters) - South Africa's national planning minister Trevor Manuel said on Monday he was not all-powerful in setting economic policy.
Manuel, a former finance minister under ex-President Thabo Mbeki, is loathed by powerful unions who see him as a champion of business-friendly economic policies and fear he still wields undue influence over policy.
'For once in my deployment, I don't hold the big stick,' Manuel said during a public lecture in Johannesburg.
Manuel was excluded from the cabinet's economic planning and decision making clusters last week. That, and the resignation of key government policy advisor Joel Netshitenzhe, fuelled investor concern that President Jacob Zuma's allies may be pressuring him to change policies.
The country's powerful COSATU trade union federation has condemned Zuma's choice of Manuel to lead a key economic planning commission which aims to guide the country out of its first recession in 17 years.
In his lecture, Manuel said he was not solely responsible for setting economic policy.
'In many respects, the responsibility of (other) government departments and agencies will be to advise on the long term plan and vision to detail the policies to attain the vision and to intermediate between the long term and the immediate,' he said.
COSATU has demanded that its nominee in government, Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel, set the country's growth strategy and not Manuel.
'Don't believe what you read in papers, there is more coherence,' Manuel said dispelling concerns of a rift in the cabinet. (For more Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: http://af.reuters.com) Keywords: SAFRICA ECONOMY/MANUEL (peroshni.govender@thomsonreuters.com; +27 11 775 3126; Reuters Messaging: peroshni.govender.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
JOHANNESBURG, Oct 26 (Reuters) - South Africa's national planning minister Trevor Manuel said on Monday he was not all-powerful in setting economic policy.
Manuel, a former finance minister under ex-President Thabo Mbeki, is loathed by powerful unions who see him as a champion of business-friendly economic policies and fear he still wields undue influence over policy.
'For once in my deployment, I don't hold the big stick,' Manuel said during a public lecture in Johannesburg.
Manuel was excluded from the cabinet's economic planning and decision making clusters last week. That, and the resignation of key government policy advisor Joel Netshitenzhe, fuelled investor concern that President Jacob Zuma's allies may be pressuring him to change policies.
The country's powerful COSATU trade union federation has condemned Zuma's choice of Manuel to lead a key economic planning commission which aims to guide the country out of its first recession in 17 years.
In his lecture, Manuel said he was not solely responsible for setting economic policy.
'In many respects, the responsibility of (other) government departments and agencies will be to advise on the long term plan and vision to detail the policies to attain the vision and to intermediate between the long term and the immediate,' he said.
COSATU has demanded that its nominee in government, Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel, set the country's growth strategy and not Manuel.
'Don't believe what you read in papers, there is more coherence,' Manuel said dispelling concerns of a rift in the cabinet. (For more Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: http://af.reuters.com) Keywords: SAFRICA ECONOMY/MANUEL (peroshni.govender@thomsonreuters.com; +27 11 775 3126; Reuters Messaging: peroshni.govender.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.