Although South African Finance Minister Trevor Manuel has resigned from cabinet, his spokesperson, Thoraya Pandy said on Tuesday that he is still willing to serve the new administration in whatever way is possible.

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.

A number of ministers are believed to have resigned for a similar reason, but some are understood to think that they do not want to be considered as hangovers from the Mbeki regime. They want to receive an endorsement from the new president by being reappointed.

One aspect of the announcement of the resignations is that obvious candidates for removal from the cabinet, such as Health Minister Manto Tshabalala Msimang have not quit.

Khotso Khumalo, the spokesperson for the ANC caucus in Parliament, said later that there are many senior members of the ANC who would be capable of serving as finance minister. He named Gill Marcus, the former deputy governor of the Reserve Bank, and Trade and Industry Minister Mandisi Mpahlwa.

I-Net Bridge