Hon speaker, hon Deputy President, the man of the moment, hon Manuel, and hon members, this old boy of Harold Cressy High School on the Cape Flats is one of the worthy sons of South Africa. He holds five honorary doctorates because of his diligence in public office. Among his innumerable awards, hon Manuel was honoured as the best African finance Minister on two occasions.
He is a person who does not shy away when things go awry. Who can forget how he tackled the former CEO of the Government Communication and Information System Jimmy Manyi, on the question of racial quotas. Without going into detail, let me quote from his open letter to Jimmy. He started by saying:
Let us drop titles for the purpose of a necessary exchange. So let us forget for now that I am a cabinet minister and that you are a director- general equivalent, in the same government.
Thereafter, he gave this self-appointed ethnic anthropologist a solid lecture.
Having served as the first Minister of Trade and Industry in the democratic government of the Republic, Minister Manuel served as the Minister of Finance from 1996 to 2009, when he resigned after President Mbeki was ousted. He did this as a matter of principle so that the new President could apply his mind to constituting his government. Only a man of honour could do that and not take for granted that he would be retained in that portfolio.
In 2009, when he was appointed as the Minister in the Presidency responsible, or rather commissioned, for the National Development Plan, he made a good job of it. He consulted extensively and his leadership of that commission has given South Africa a legacy of self-discovery. When I rejoined this House two years ago, Minister Manuel led me by the hand on what the NDP is all about, by writing me a special letter, and then he sat me down and explained the whole thing so that I could catch up.
This is a man of great vision and a team player. Mr Manuel is one man who enjoys the respect of most, if not all Members of Parliament. I know a good number of people out there who saw him as a voice of reason.
When he decided at the Mangaung Conference of the ANC to step down as a member of the National Executive Committee of the organisation, many were disappointed, but we have to live with that. Wise men know when they have come to the end of their innings.
Good luck, hon Trevor. Be happy wherever you will be. You certainly will remain a repository of the values you hold, and trust you will pass them on to others in the country. That is what we want for all South Africans - excellence through hard work. Farewell, sir. [Applause.]