Manuel declines NEC nomination: report

South Africa's Finance Minister Trevor Manuel attends a session at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, in this January 28, 2009 file picture. South Africa is set formally to nominate former Finance Minister Manuel for Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on June 10, 2011, magazine Emerging Markets reported. The magazine cited a "senior and well-placed" source in Pretoria as saying Manuel had won the backing of South Africa President Jacob Zuma and his candidacy would be officially announced on Friday -- the last day for nominations. REUTERS/Pascal Lauener/Files (SWITZERLAND - Tags: POLITICS BUSINESS HEADSHOT)

South Africa's Finance Minister Trevor Manuel attends a session at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, in this January 28, 2009 file picture. South Africa is set formally to nominate former Finance Minister Manuel for Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on June 10, 2011, magazine Emerging Markets reported. The magazine cited a "senior and well-placed" source in Pretoria as saying Manuel had won the backing of South Africa President Jacob Zuma and his candidacy would be officially announced on Friday -- the last day for nominations. REUTERS/Pascal Lauener/Files (SWITZERLAND - Tags: POLITICS BUSINESS HEADSHOT)

Published Dec 16, 2012

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Planning minister Trevor Manuel has declined a nomination to the ANC's national executive committee, City Press reported on Sunday.

Manuel said he wanted to play a “different role” and believed the African National Congress's values were being destroyed by the current competition for leadership.

“After 21-and-a-half years, you ask: do I still have the hunger?” Manuel told City Press.

“It is time for young people to come through the system. I want to try and mentor. I feel there's a duty to do that now. If everything is a competition, you destroy values (as is being done now).

“If this happens, you cannot draw on the skills and expertise (of people who leave after brutal competition). This was clear at Polokwane.”

He said it was time for younger leaders to take over, that the party's policy-making was poor, and that Parliament was weak, City Press reported.

Manuel took the decision “as a matter of principle”.

Deputy Public Works Minister Jeremy Cronin and Congress of SA Trade Unions general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi also announced on Saturday that they had declined nominations, the newspaper reported.

Manuel added that in the world of politics “logic does not always reign supreme”.

According to City Press, Manuel wanted a smaller NEC of “fewer cadres and better-quality discussions”. He said Parliament was “weak” at overseeing the making of policy, and implementation.

The ANC's conference starts on Sunday morning. - Sapa

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