President of the Pan African Parliament (PAP) Gertrude Mongella arrived in Pretoria on Tuesday to discuss the modalities of the opening of the first session of the Parliament next month.

The inaugural session will be held on September 16 at the interim venue at Gallagher Estate in Midrand, which is currently being refurbished to accommodate the African Union (AU) MPs.

South Africa won the right to host the Parliament at an AU summit over a month ago.

The parliament will function as a consultative body to AU members to discuss issues such as civil wars, diseases such as HIV and Aids, and other developmental issues of the continent.

However, it will not have any legislative powers for a five-year period until 2007 when it becomes a legislative assembly.

Welcoming Ambassador Mongella in Pretoria, Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Sue van der Merwe promised African MPs a warm welcome when they come to attend the first sitting.

Van der Merwe said in the long-term the PAP would be hosted in Gauteng, at the venue still to be decided.

A continental wide competition will take place to find a suitable building that will "truly be an African building".

African architects will have to come up with a design that will reflect the continent's rich cultural heritage.

Mongella said Pretoria deserved to host the Parliament and this served as another step on the country's path to democracy that is ten years old.

Ambassador Mongella is described as a woman of valour, who trained as a teacher and later moved to various high-ranking positions on the continent and abroad.

Last year, Mongella was appointed Goodwill Ambassador for the World Health Organisation's Africa region.

Among her four vice-presidents are Prof Fernando Van-Dunem, representing Southern Africa, followed by Dr Mohammed Lutfi Farhat from Libya.

The third vice president is Elise Neloumsi Loum, who represents Central Africa and Jerome Sacca Kina Guezere from Benin in West Africa was elected the fourth vice president.

"We have been pleased with the co-operation shown by South Africans following the announcement of its successful bid to host the Pan African Parliament. The September 16 will be a great day for the continent," she said. – BuaNews.