UNITED NATIONS, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Maite Nkoana-Mashbane, minister of international relations and cooperation of South Africa, on Friday asked for world support in her nation's bid for a seat on the UN Security Council starting next year.

Nkona-Mashbane made the remarks to garner support for the South African bid as she was speaking at a press conference on the occasion of marking the first "Nelson Mandela International Day" here.

"South Africa is once again coming to all UN member states to plead for their support for our candidature for the next round of Security Council membership," she said.

South Africais vying for a spot on the 15-nation Council as a non-permanent member for the 2011-2012 term. The new permanent members are to be elected by the 192-member UN General Assembly late this year.

Ten of the Council's 15 seats are filled by regional groups for two-year terms, and five non-permanent members are elected by the General Assembly every year. To win, candidates must get a two- thirds majority of the assembly members voting by secret ballot.

Other five are permanent members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.