Here’s President Jacob Zuma last week: “South Africa will use its participation in the 70th session to continue our relentless work to achieve the reform of the UN, especially of the Security Council which has a key role to play in promoting world peace and security.” The ANC’s latest discussion document on international relations stresses that the reform of the Security Council must be a “key focus”.

It’s understandable that the ANC sees a permanent seat on the Security Council as not just a prize, but an issue of fundamental global justice. No African country currently has a permanent seat, despite the fact that the continent is home to more than 1-billion people.

The referral of cases by the Security Council to the International Criminal Court (ICC) has doubtless increased the ANC’s desire for African seats on the council, particularly in the wake of the Omar al-Bashir controversy.

Available: http://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2015-09-22-analysis-can-south-africa-win-a-seat-on-the-un-security-council/#.VgUHtNKqpHw