Cape Town, South Africa - Ahead of next week's Africa Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, South Africa is continuing with its campaign to see highly-respected Cabinet Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma head the AU Commission.

Dlamini-Zuma is seeking the post of the Chairperson of the AU Commission, currently occupied by Mr. Jean Ping who is also seeking re-election.

The key post will be decided at the AU summit.

Dlamini-Zuma, a former Foreign Minister, is now the Home Affairs Minister, and has been credited for turning the department around.

The 54 heads of state and government of the AU will hold a secret ballot at the 29-30 January summit to decide whether Ping gets a new term.

Dlamini-Zuma is backed by the 15-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC), while Ping has extensive support from within the Central and West African nations.

Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, said the key issues that inform this candidature include the urgent need to consolidate the institution of the AU as a formidable, premier, Pan-African institution.

“South Africa's candidature for the position of AU Commission Chairperson is informed by the country's continued commitment to the political and socio-economic development of the continent and its promotion of AU principles, goals and objectives,” Nkoana-Mashabane said.

Pana 20/01/2012