 Interviewed by Perlman on 22 February following the annual budget speech, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel praised Perlman's "sterling work" and contribution to changing the face of the SA media.COSATU took out a full-page advert in the Mail & Guardian on 2 March, coinciding with Perlman's last day on air, paying tribute to him as "an excellent and patriotic journalist".Perlman's final After 8 Debate was titled "Have we learnt anything from the After 8 Debate?"