Manuel did not resign on principle

It appears that Manuel did not resign on principle. When asked by Mbeki to travel to Washington, he had tabled a resignation letter because he believed this to be what was technically required for the change-over. He had exacted a promise that the change would be seamless.
He was on a flight between Washington and New York when the news of the cabinet resignations hit the press. It is unclear who pushed the button from the President's Office. The president's spokesperson, Thembo Maseko, was unaware of the release of the news. And in that short time when Manuel was on a plane, South Africa was in limbo. Fortunately some of the major investors had been informed earlier of the possibility of unfounded rumours and did not react. Who gave the instruction for the button to be pushed?