Dlamini-Zuma 'struggles to hold back tears'

2012-08-14 12:24

Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. (AFP)

Cape Town – Newly appointed African Union Commission chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma failed to hold her tears back in Durban when scores of people honoured her for becoming the first woman to land the position.  

People in colourful traditional dress, member of the ANC Women's League and nurses danced in the streets to celebrate Dlamini-Zuma’s success, a report said on Tuesday.

Overwhelmed by the crowd outside the city hall, Dlamini-Zuma struggled to hold back tears but eventually managed to speak, according to Times Live.

"It's very humbling to arrive home and find such a welcoming honour. I'm very grateful to the ANC [African National Congress], which sent me to parliament after our first democratic elections," she said.

Dlamini-Zuma thanked former South African presidents Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe and President Jacob Zuma for including her in their cabinets and giving her an opportunity to be part of the transformation of lives in South Africa.

Her priority now was to take orders from African people.

"Everyone must contribute and give direction on how they need Africa to be run," Dlamini-Zuma said.

She also said the issue of female mortality during childbirth is of great concern, and that the challenge within the organisation [AU] would be to make it more financially sustainable, the Witness reported.

"The organisation needs to be able to raise funds within it, while the donor money is welcomed; we need to be more sustainable."

Dlamini-Zuma landed the post after beating the incumbent, Gabon's Jean Ping, at the last session of the AU meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in July.

She assumes her new office in October.

- News24