Pretoria - Deputy Justice Minister Andries Nel has welcomed the appointment of Fatou Bensouda as the International Criminal Court's new prosecutor.
Her appointment was also applauded by the South African delegation at the annual meeting of the Assembly of States Parties of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in New York on Monday.
In congratulating Bensouda, Nel noted that the position would be filled by an African woman.
Bensouda is a former Minister of Justice for Gambia and is presently the court's deputy prosecutor.
She emerged as a consensus candidate after a search committee process, during which South Africa represented the Africa region, interviewed a number of candidates.
Nel noted that African states were among the strongest proponents for the establishment of the ICC and that Africa was the largest regional bloc of member states with 33 of the 120 States Parties.
In addition, five of the 18 judges of the ICC are from Africa.
Bensouda's appointment was significant in light of the several investigations and prosecutions relating to crime committed in African states, he added.
Nel also reiterated South Africa's support for the ICC.
The Assembly of States Parties is being held at the United Nations headquarters in New York from 12 to 22 December.
