Durban: Indian origin ANC (African National Congress) leader Ebrahim Rassool has been nominated as the Premier of the Western Cape province by South African President Thabo Mbeki.

Rassool was chosen as the Premier of the province along with eight other Prime Ministers around the country yesterday (Apr 22, 2004).

President Mbeki's nomination indicates that he has placed a great deal of confidence in me, Rassool said adding, "I accept the challenge and would do best for the people of the Western Cape and the country".

"It's a mammoth task because we still have so much to do for the poor and the marginalised," he told SABC radio today.

Rassool played a leading role in the formation of the United Democratic Front in the early 1980s when the ANC was banned by the former apartheid regime.

After the democratic elections of 1994, he held a senior position in the Western Cape Government before being appointed as Minister of Finance three years ago.