Trevor Manuel has been South African Minister of Finance since June 1996. He was born in Cape Town in January 1956 the son of an employee of the Cape Town City Council. He was involved in the founding of the UDF in the Western Cape and subsequently became the regional secretary of the United Democratic Front (UDF). Between 1985-1990 he was repeatedly detained without trial or placed under house arrest, spending a total of 35 months in detention.

After the unbanning of the ANC Manuel was appointed deputy co- ordinator in the Western Cape. In 1992 Manuel became head of the ANC's Department of Economic Planning. After the April 1994 elections Manuel was appointed Minister of Trade Industry and in March 1996 he was appointed Minister of Finance.