Further resignations

Further resignations have taken place. The toll now stands at the President, the Deputy President, 10 Ministers and 3 Deputy Ministers. And, guess what. This includes our Minister of Finance Trevor Manuel.

Now, really... this can definitely not be good for South Africa, now as we stand in this volatile moment with soaring (and thankfully, now declining) petrol prices, soaring food prices and now further economic instability as well as on our political landscape. After what has just transpired, one can but ony hope we will receive our 36c decline in the petrol price next month.

Here's the resignation list as it currently stands:

Statement on the resignation of members of Cabinet and Deputy Ministers - 23 September 2008.

President Thabo Mbeki has, to date, received letters of resignation from the following members of Cabinet which, regretfully, he has had to accept:

1. Deputy President - Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka

2. Minister of Defence - Mosiuoa Lekota

3. Minister of Finance - Trevor Manuel

4. Minister in the Presidency - Dr Essop Pahad

5. Minister of Intelligence - Ronnie Kasrils

6. Minister of Correctional Services - Ngconde Balfour

7. Minister of Public Enterprises - Alec Erwin

8. Minister of Science and Technology - Mosibudi Mangena

9. Minister of Public Works - Thoko Didiza

10. Minister of Provincial and Local Government - Sydney Mufamadi

11. Minister of Public Service and Administration - Geraldine Fraser Moleketi

The following Deputy Ministers have also tendered their resignations:

1. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs - Aziz Pahad

2. Deputy Minister of Finance - Jabu Moleketi

3. Deputy Minister of Correctional Services - Loretta Jacobus

The resignations will be effective from the day that the President's resignation takes effect. All the Ministers have expressed their availability to assist the incoming administration in the hand-over process and any other assistance that might be sought from them. President Mbeki thanked the Deputy President, the Ministers and the Deputy Ministers for their dedicated service to the nation and wished them well in their future endeavours.

Further to this I just received notice that there is a possibility that Finance Minister Trevor Manuel will stay and serve on the new administration said his spokesperson Thoraya Pandy.

Pandy made it clear that the minister believed his resignation was required because he served "at the pleasure of the President" and if the President resigns then he must too.

The rand plummeted after word got out but as talks of a possible stay was born, it regained its earlier composure.