Pretoria - The South Africa government says it is in favour of a democratic Egypt and Tunisia.
SA, which will monitor closely the developments in the Middle East, says it believes that the course and the content of the transition, as well as the destiny that these sister countries choose, should be authored by them.
"South Africa lends its support to efforts aimed at introducing and implementing political reforms that will ensure a smooth and peaceful transition in Tunisia and Egypt," said President Zuma.
Zuma was delivering the State of the Nation Address in Parliament on Thursday night.
The wave of protests against oppressive regimes, which began in Tunisia on 17 December, have spread to other parts of the Middle East.
Egypt was the most affected, which saw over thousands of people taking to the streets against authoritarian leader President Hosni Mubarak, 82, calling on him to step down after 30 years in power.
They say they are fed up after decades of poverty, repression, rigged elections, corruption, high unemployment and rampant abuse by police.
But there have been fears that once Mubarak leaves office, it can break the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
President Mubarak has been a central figure in Middle East politics and a key Western ally since he took power in 1981. He also leads one of only two Arab countries to sign a peace treaty with Israel.
Zuma hoped that nothing would derail the realisation of the aspirations of the Palestinian people for a secure independent state, existing side by side and in peace with the Israeli state.
"South Africa reiterates its call to the international community to encourage the parties to continue the search for a durable solution in the Middle East," Zuma told the nation.
Turning on Sudan, which completed a peaceful referendum, Zuma congratulated the people of Sudan and welcomed the new state of South Sudan.
"This is a key African success story. We congratulate the African Union and the United Nations for the skilful handling of this project."
After a six-year transitional period, following two decades of brutal civil war, close to four million southern Sudanese went to the polls from 9 - 15 January to cast their vote for unity or secession.
With 98.83 percent of all voters choosing independence, South Sudan will officially be able to declare independence on 9 July.
The President committed to helping conflict-hit countries such as Madagascar, DRC, Zimbabwe and Cote d'Ivoire find lasting resolutions.
Zuma also promised continued involvement and participation in building a better and peaceful Africa and world.
