Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said she would like to make a contribution to the African Union (AU).

"I think we [South Africa] can make a contribution to the African Union as our pan-African organisation and this is really what we would like to do -- to make our humble contribution to the African Union," Dlamini-Zuma said during an interview with eTV 360 on Saturday.

"No one person makes a contribution in an organisation."

Dlamini-Zuma was talking about what contribution she would make if she was elected as chair of the AU commission.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has nominated Dlamini-Zuma for the position.

There has been much controversy around the elections.

The SADC reportedly accused sitting AU chief Jean Ping, who is Gabon's foreign minister, of abusing AU resources in his election race.

Neither Ping nor Dlamini-Zuma won the two-thirds majority needed at the previous summit, despite several rounds of voting, leaving Ping in the post until a new election could be held.

If no candidate is elected this time around, Ping, who has held the post since 2008, could legally be asked to continue as interim head until the next summit in January 2013.

When asked why she was running for the position of chair Dlamini-Zuma said she was a citizen of the African continent and had every right to run.

"I am also running because the region from which I come has decided to field me as a candidate for this position, a position that has not been held by the southern region for 49 years," she told the news channel.

Dlamini-Zuma said the election for the top spot should be a democratic one, despite divisions between member states.

"This should be a democratic election that should not really be based on anything besides the capacity and the merits of the two candidates," she said.

"The important thing is that there are two candidates that are standing. One has had a full mandate and of course, if you have had a full mandate and if you want to run for a second term, the people you have been serving will vote as they think they should."

There would not be divisions if people focused on what the candidates had to offer.

"Southern Africa has tried. This is the third time they are trying so I think this is why they feel strongly but the important thing is what kind of candidate have they fielded and this is what people should be looking at," she said.

Dalmini-Zuma said all AU members were equal and should be treated equally.

Asked what she would do if she was elected, Dlamini-Zuma said she would have to assess the situation first.

"... Like a doctor, you first diagnose and then you treat. I will have to take it from there," said Dlamini-Zuma.