Six months ago doctor and South African Minister of Home Affairs Nkosazama Dlamini-Zuma failed to win the showdown for the chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission when she became deadlocked in the race with incumbent Jean Ping. At that time, neither got the required two-thirds majority votes.

The second round of voting in July was also divided, but Dlamini-Zuma, the first woman and first South African to hold the post, finally won after four rounds with 37 votes, three more than the needed majority. In the process she ousted Ping, the Gabonese who had headed the steering body of the 54-member organization since 2008.

While certain factions of the AU see South Africa as using intimidatory tactics, even accusing the country of buying votes to gain the upper hand, most members are pleased that the process that had threatened to divide the organization has reached a conclusion.

Dlamini-Zuma said she is not only a candidate of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) but also represents the empowerment of women. She told women they must compete for positions until they win, saying, "You can never catch if you don't hunt."

The appointment is also in line with the AU's policy on gender parity in its commission.

In response to some analysts who said South Africa had violated an unwritten rule that the continent's biggest economy should not have put its hat into the ring, rather leaving it to smaller nations to take the job, Dhlamini-Zuma said this was iniquitous.

"It's unfair to say you can only contribute to the AU if you're from a small country," she said.

South Africa sees its contribution via Dlamini-Zuma as a huge diplomatic victory for the country and the continent. After the international interference in the Libyan and Cote d'Ivoire conflicts, the expectation is high for Dlamini-Zuma to strengthen the capacity of the AU to better fulfill the continent's leadership, make it more efficient and champion the African agenda.

In the process if Africa rises, then clearly South Africa will rise accordingly, meaning Dlamini-Zuma will kill two birds with one stone.

She takes the AU leadership at a time when the organization is facing tough times. Consideration of sending forces to combat armed rebels in the DRC, backing a plan by West African nations to take on Islamist militants in North Mali and dealing with protests sweeping across Sudan are all ongoing items on her agenda.

After hearing of Dlamini-Zuma's victory, Benin's President and current Chairperson of the AU, Thomas Boni Yayi said, "Now we have the African Union chair Madame Zuma, who will preside over the destiny of this institution."

Both the AU and Dlamini-Zuma's destinies now seem inextricably linked for the foreseeable future.

How she ensures her new appointment benefits the citizens of Africa and how she molds her future relationships with the leaders who make up the membership of the AU will determine the outcome of Dlamini-Zuma's new role as Africa's first lady.

The Editor