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The African Union's endorsement of South Africa for a second term as non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and the Peace and Security Council of the African Union is a tribute to our leaders, past and present, and is an honour for our country and our movement.

Our Polokwane resolution states:

"Internationalism is a crucial feature in the unique character of the ANC inspired by the spirit and ideals of human solidarity"

The endorsement of South Africa's candidature for a second term as a non-permanent member of the UNSC came a week before the 20th anniversary of the release from prison of the icon of the South African liberation struggle comrade Nelson Mandela on 11 February 1990. His release marked a turning point in our country's history and paved the way for the building of a non-racial, non-sexist, democratic South Africa.

This moment in February 1990 was of course the result of the work and struggle of the people of South Africa over so many years and with the brave and unflinching support of the African people and others in the international community. During the apartheid years our organization and our supporters used the United Nations Organisation, an embodiment of multilateral cooperation and dialogue, as a platform to wage and gear support for the liberation struggle.

The African National Congress's (ANC's) relationship with the United Nations (UN) is a long one and is well documented. Since the UN's earliest days, South Africa was a standing item on the agenda. The first time apartheid South Africa was challenged at the United Nations was in June 1946 when the Government of India requested that the question of the treatment of Indians in the Union of South African should be included in the agenda of the first session of the General Assembly.

In October 1946 the General Assembly decided to include on its agenda an item entitled: "Treatment of Indians in the Union of South Africa". It rejected the then government of South Africa‘s contention that the matter was within the domestic jurisdiction of South Africa and the United Nations was not competent to consider the matter. The matter was to be considered jointly by the First and Sixth Committee of the UN. A delegation from South Africa, led by Dr A B Xuma, President- General of the ANC arrived in New York to follow the discussions at the UN, to advise the Indian delegation, and lobby other delegations to support the struggle against oppression in South Africa. So began a long history of ANC engagement with the United Nations.

The first action of the UN Security Council on South Africa was not until 1 April 1960, 10 days after the Sharpeville Massacre. The Security Council began consideration of the situation in South Africa, under an agenda item entitled: "The Situation arising out of the large-scale killings of unarmed and peaceful demonstrations against racial discrimination and segregation in the Union of South Africa."

The UNSC adopted Resolution 134 (1960) which deplored the polices and action of the South African government which had given rise to a loss of life of so many Africans and led to international friction.. It called upon the government of South Africa to abandon its policies of apartheid and racial discrimination. It requested the Secretary General "to make such arrangements as would adequately help in upholding the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter".

On 11 October 1963, following the arrest of comrade Mandela and other leaders of our movement, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 1881 (XVIII) requesting the Government of South Africa to abandon the "Rivonia trial" and forthwith grant unconditional release of all political prisoners and all persons imprisoned, following the racist regime's arrest of the leadership of the ANC and allied organizations.

These are just a few of many resolutions and actions by the United Nations on South Africa during the apartheid years, including of course the famous decision on 24 October 1970, in a Declaration on the 25th anniversary of the United Nations, where the General Assembly described apartheid as "a crime against the conscience and dignity of mankind".;

Since the 1960's, South Africa experienced increased international isolation due to sanctions imposed by the international community. Of course it was not until August 1989 that the Assembly of the Heads of State of the OAU meeting in Harare, adopted the now famous Harare declaration, which paved the way for a negotiated political settlement in South Africa.

While South Africa was undergoing its own transition in the 1990s, major changes were taking place in the global political and economic landscape. This period marked the end of the cold war, and a shift from bipolar to a unipolar world dominated by the United States.

During this period democratic South Africa began her re-integration into the international community, marking the end of our pariah status as a country and the beginning of our new role as a responsible global citizen.

Post apartheid South Africa abandoned the erstwhile infamous total onslaught strategy, which led to the destabilisation of countries of Southern Africa. South Africa played a constructive and positive role mediating conflicts and deploying peace keepers in various conflict zones in the continent.

In recognition of our efforts to promote peace and security in Africa and elsewhere in the world, South Africa was nominated to serve for the first time as a non-permanent member of the UNSC for the period 2007 - 2008. The vote was encouraging. Of the 191 countries eligible to vote, South Africa received 186 votes. It was indeed exciting for us as a new democracy to receive such a ringing endorsement of our first term as a member of the UNSC.

South Africa's strategic objective in the Security Council was informed by two key imperatives, namely:
to promote a close working relationship between the UNSC and other regional Peace and Security structures, especially the African Union Peace and Security Council. Most of the matters on the UNSC agenda are, after all, matters relating to Africa. Our delegation therefore sought to bring a greater synergy between the efforts of our continental body and the United Nations Security Council.
to work with all members of the UNGA in pursuit of the comprehensive reform of the United Nations including the reform and expansion of the United Nations Security Council.
As a result of our work, there is now improved coordination between the UNSC and the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) in the conduct of peace missions in Africa. This improved coordination, which was underscored by the UN report commissioned under the leadership of the former chairman of the EU Commission, Mr Romano Prodi, will result in predictable, sustainable and flexible financing for ongoing peace keeping missions undertaken by the African Union (AU) and logistical support. The United Nations (UN) has also identified capacity building activities between the AU and the UN in areas such as conflict prevention, conflict resolution and post conflict and reconstruction.

More work still needs to be done with regard to the reform of the UNSC. The United Nations and its organs are still premised on the 1945 UN Charter, drawn up in the aftermath of the Second World War, and reflecting the realities of power dynamics of that time. This needs to change and the institutions of global governance need to reflect the 21st Century geopolitical realities, including representation on the Security Council of countries of the South and particularly African countries. The reform of the global institutions of governance including the UNSC is one of the objectives of the ANC's International Relations Programme of Action.

The debate on these reforms has been raging at the UN for more than 10 years. We as a country and as a movement are determined to contribute to the debate on the reform of multilateral institutions as part of our efforts of promoting a just and equitable world.

South Africa's candidature for the second term in the UNSC could be viewed as a vote of confidence in its ability to champion the cause of peace and security and a reaffirmation of its efforts and successes in contributing towards peace and stability in Africa. This is in line with the ANC and the country's foreign policy objectives of contributing towards a united, peaceful and prosperous Africa. The pursuit for peace and stability has always been South Africa's priority to enhance socio-economic development not only for its own benefit, but that of the Southern African Region and the continent. We believe membership of the UNSC at this critical time in the debate, will enhance our ability to contribute to the debate and promote the voice of the South as the world decides on what a modern United Nations organisation should look like.

None of our achievements could or would have been possible without the huge solidarity movement that the ANC spawned in opposition to apartheid. Nor could we have achieved what we achieved without the support of the countries on the African continent that have stood by us and worked with us in our struggles.

The same AU Summit that endorsed our candidature for the Security Council also elected South Africa to serve on the AU Peace and Security Council for a two-year term. This means that South Africa will serve together with fourteen other member states from each of Africa's five regions.

The work of the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) is focussed both on preventing conflicts and promoting peace and stability in the continent. The PSC is a collective security and early warning arrangement designed to facilitate a timely and effective response to conflict and crisis situations in Africa.

South Africa believes that only a continent that is at peace with itself, and with the world at large, can embark on a sustained trajectory of development and prosperity for all its peoples. The consequences of conflicts on the Continent are many and well documented. They impact negatively on the lives of many ordinary citizens and the most vulnerable of these are women, children and the elderly. In addition, conflicts negatively affect the economies of African states and hinder the economic development of the continent in general. Conflict on the continent also prevents proper intra-African trade and development in general. Conflict deprives the affected countries of much-needed human resources and intellectual capital, which are critical elements for the achievement of sustainable development.

South Africa's election to the PSC of the AU is particularly important. It will also coincide with the AU's declaration of 2010 as the African Year of Peace and Security. In this regard, South Africa reaffirms its commitment to heed the call of the continent.

It is with greatest humility that South Africa accepts the endorsement of our own continental body for our candidature of the UN Security Council for the 2011 - 2012 term. Indeed the African Union leadership has demonstrated, through this endorsement, its confidence in South Africa to represent the interest of the continent at the UNSC in pursuit for peace and stability in Africa. South Africa is proud of the opportunities that it has had as a voice on the international stage in advocating the interests of Africa and the developing world.

As we stated in Polokwane:

"The international front was one of the key pillars of the struggle that led to the defeat of the apartheid regime in 1994 and remains one of the catalysts in the creation of a better world."

Having been endorsed by the African Union for membership of the UNSC, South Africa has a unique opportunity to ensure that this important global institution recognises the imperative of real reform, and heeds the voice of the South. South Africa's membership of the UNSC and the AUPSC will give it the rare opportunity of bringing coherence in the work of the UN and the African Union to ensure that these organisations play a complimentary role in the resolution of conflicts in Africa. South Africa will endeavour to discharge its responsibility with honour and dignity.

Aluta Continua!