Politics
South Africa lobbying to have leadership of the African Union
The 54 heads of state and government of the AU will hold a secret ballot at the January 29-30 summit to decide whether Ping gets a new term.
Dlamini-Zuma, 62, is backed by the 15-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Ping has major support from French-speaking central and west African nations. He obtained the necessary two-thirds majority in the first round of voting in 2008.
But Obed Bapela, deputy minister in the presidency, said South Africa had managed to split the West African vote.
“In the work we have done so far, having spoken to certain leaders in certain West African countries, I can say there are those supporting our candidate,” he told the press conference.
Nkoana-Mashabane said South Africa had been lobbying for support across the continent.
“South Africa views African countries as one,” she said.
“When we interact with African countries we don’t remember who their colonizer was first.”
Copyright 2012 AFP.
