Trevor Manuel

The world’s longest serving Minister of Finance, Trevor Manuel has been credited with much of South Africa’s economic growth and stability, even in the face of the world’s economic recession. Trevor Manuel was appointed in Mandela’s first cabinet in 1994 as Minister of Trade and Industry and in 1996 became Minister of Finance.

Having recently given his 13th Budget Speech on the 11th February 2009, the highlights include surprise personal tax cuts, tougher environmental taxes and higher fuel levies. Minister Manuel also highlighted the main areas of spending as being Education, Rural development, Transport, Health, Sanitation, the Criminal Justice System and Social grants.

Now Penguin Books allows you to meet the man behind the country’s sterling economic performance with Choice, Not Fate: The Life and Times of Trevor Manuel a book written by prestigious journalist and writer Pippa Green. The book gives insights into Trevor Manuel the man, political activist and how his country’s struggles and triumphs have lead to the man he is today.