Mbeki ally Erwin to quit after S.Africa's 2009 vote

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African public enterprises minister Alec Erwin, one of the prime movers behind President Thabo Mbeki's pro-business policies, has become the first minister to rule out staying on after 2009 elections.

Mbeki has to step down in 2009 after two terms and the frontrunner to succeed him is ruling ANC party leader Jacob Zuma, who has strong union backing. Investors are concerned that might mean a policy shift to the left.

Erwin's spokeswoman, Vimla Maistry, said on Monday that he would retire after the 2009 elections. She could not say whether Erwin was just quitting government or leaving politics altogether.

Erwin was voted out of the decision-making structures of the African National Congress in December at the same conference in Polokwane where Zuma beat Mbeki to take the leadership of the ruling party.

Many of Zuma's followers believe poor South Africans have been left out by Mbeki's policies. Zuma is almost certain to take the presidency if he can beat a trial for corruption which is due to start later this year.

Erwin's spokeswoman declined to comment on local media reports at the weekend that the minister had clashed with Finance Minister Trevor Manuel, another close ally of Mbeki.

The Sunday Times said there was a rift between the two senior government officials after Manuel rejected Erwin's suggestion that Treasury should have less control over funding for state-owned enterprises.

(Reporting by Phumza Macanda; Editing by Matthew Tostevin)