South Africa vies for UN Security Council seat

South Africa is preparing to join the United Nations world body for peace and security for the third time in just over a decade.

It's expected to be voted onto the UN Security Council on Friday.

It would become one of five countries to win a non-permanent seat on the 15 member Council.

But South Africa, a long-time campaigner for UN reform, is asking for more than just another two year term.

Nick Harper reports from New York.

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Endorsed by the African Union and running uncontested, South Africa's bid to join the UN Security Council looks guaranteed.
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It still needs at least 129 votes from the 193 UN members.
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But in both 2006 and 2010 Pretoria gained more than 180 votes.
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South Africa plans to use its 2-year term to reassert its desire for a more permanent position at the table.

SOT - Simon Adams, Global Center for the Responsibility to Protect
"There should be permanent African representation. // I think we definitely need Security Council reform, we've got a 20th century UN struggling to deal with 21st century problems and the victors of the Second World War are still dominating that body."

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But changing more than 70 years of Council rules is easier said than done.

SOT - Jonathan Cristol, Fellow, World Policy Institute
"Talking about UN reform as a priority for any new incoming non-permanent member is sort of what everybody says. And yet it doesn't actually happen. And I suspect that probably won't happen in this case."

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South Africa plans to prioritize multilateralism and the peaceful resolution of global conflicts with an emphasis on the African continent.
It's a proponent of more women in peacekeeping.
And it will push for free and fair elections later this year in Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

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But experts are unsure if it will succeed in breaking the Council deadlock on issues like Syria and Gaza.

SOT - Simon Adams, Global Center for the Responsibility to Protect
"I think it's incumbent upon the South Africans to get in touch with those fine traditions of South African politics in terms of standing up for human rights, and to make that difference because the Council is deeply divided. I think there is a sense in which states are being asked to choose 'are you this side of the divide or on that side of the divide?' Well I think South Africa could in some ways be a bridge."

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South Africa goes into Friday's election in a particularly strong position.
But will two years be enough to achieve the UN and global changes it desires?
NIck Harper, SABC News, New York