Manuel: S. Africa to have continuity

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- South African Finance Minister Trevor Manuel says there will be continuity in the government despite the controversial recall of President Thabo Mbeki.

Manuel, who has been credited as the architect of South Africa's economic expansion, says there is no split within the African National Congress party, which last week forced the resignation of former president Mbeki, the BBC reported Tuesday.

Interim President Kgalema Motlanthe is working to ensure a smooth transition and Manuel told the BBC he has received "unequivocal assurance" from Motlanthe that South Africa's economic strategies and policies would not change.

"There's likely to be some steadying of the ship over the next period," he told the broadcaster. "And as that happens, individuals would choose to depart.

"I can't for a moment believe that there's anybody in their right minds who would want us to abandon the source of our sustainable growth over more than a decade, to abandon that on the altar of some populism."