Pretoria - Former Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will depart for Addis Ababa on Saturday ahead of her swearing in ceremony on Monday as the new African Union Commission Chairperson.
She was chosen in July to head the continental body following an election by heads of state and government at an African Union summit held in Ethiopia.
In a farewell statement to South Africans on Thursday, Dlamini Zuma expressed gratitude for the support she had received since being elected to the position.
"Since this election, I have been humbled by the support given by various sectors of our people in their full diversity, including the government, Parliament, religious organisations, business, women, youth, labour, media and many individual citizens," she said.
Dlamini Zuma had also received overwhelming support and best wishes from across the continent and globally.
Leading the African Union Commission was a responsibility she had agreed to undertake despite the difficult challenges that lie ahead.
"It is a responsibility that I will discharge with all the commitment and passion, from the very depths of my being."
She called for the African Union to be driven by its citizens in all their formations.
"We must ultimately see a prosperous Africa at peace with itself and the world. This cannot be achieved today but we should all make a contribution towards its realisation." - SAnews.gov.za
