28 April,2009 03:37 PM IST | | PTI
South Africa's Indian-origin Revenue Commissioner Pravin Gordhan is tipped to become the country's next Finance Minister.
Sources in the ANC on Monday said that a decision on his appointment would be made when ANC leader Jacob Zuma will assume office of President in early May and finalises his cabinet.
The speculation over the appointment of Gordhan follows calls by the South African Communist Party and the South African Congress of Trade Unions, allies of the ANC, that present Finance Minister Trevor Manuel should not be retained in his position.
However, the treasurer of the ANC Mathews Phoswa said yesterday that a decision on whether or not Manuel would retain his position would be made in two weeks time.
Phoswa, whose on a visit to London, made the statement to business leaders in the backdrop of concerns that the new Zuma Government, once installed, would adopt a left-leaning economic policy.
Gordhan, 57, has proved one of the most successful government officials over the past 10 years, regenerating the Revenue Services into an efficient and productive organs.
A former activist of the now-disbanded Natal Indian Congress and other anti-apartheid organisations, he had been repeatedly praised by the current FM Manuel and the government for the manner in which he turned around the Revenue Services.
