The ANC put its foot down and finally got its left allies in Cosatu and the SACP to agree that Trevor Manuel will run the planning show.
They had objected to Manuel, saying he was a member of Thabo Mbeki’s conservative “class project”. They wanted someone more in turne with their thinking to run the planning commission.
But yesterday, they put their names to a joint statement which included this paragraph:
“In particular, we agreed that there is a need for the NPC to be located in the Presidency, which will be chaired by the minister in the Presidency for the NPC [Manuel] and whose main responsibility will be to ensure integrated strategic planning across government.”
The ANC’s Gwede Mantashe said the Manuel’s role “is now settled”.
This from Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini: “We support the call that the NPC should be located within the Presidency. It is now settled. It’s no longer an issue.”

Related posts:

1. Manuel fights back to claim some authority
2. Manuel vs the left – Is it a fight to the death?
3. Trevor Manuel speech explains planning commission – full text
4. Trevor Manuel’s statement on the National Planning Commission – full text
5. Trevor Manuel answers questions about the Planning Commission – full text