There is a good chance that Valli Moosa, the former minister of environmental affairs and tourism, will assume the prestigious position of president of the World Conservation Union (IUCN) this month.
If he is elected at the organisation's 3rd World Conservation Congress in Bangkok, Thailand, on November 24 it could see the influential environmental body adopt a more assertive role, not least within the United Nations, as the erstwhile anti-apartheid activist brings his energy and commitment to bear.
Moosa is up against only one candidate, Parvez Hassan of Pakistan, who is head of the IUCN's legal department and is well regarded as an official within the organisation's administration.
But Dr Crispian Olver, the director-general of environmental affairs and tourism, believes that global environmental issues and political circumstances strongly favour the former minister.
At a media briefing in Johannesburg this week, Olver said: "Valli helped reposition the way we look at conservation in South Africa... His is the kind of drive we need at the international level... We think he is best placed to champion the agenda we think is important... He has the support of Africa.
"We want to increase the stature of the IUCN. He is a credible politician and a skilled negotiator. We think he is best able to do it."
Launched in 1984, the IUCN consists of a broad network of governments and NGOs. More than 10 000 scientists from about 180 countries give voluntary service to its six commissions - on species conservation, protected areas, environmental law, education and communication, economic and social policy and ecosystem approaches.
One of its most prominent functions is to advise the United Nations on world heritage sites. In 1999 it was accorded observer status at the UN general assembly.
The role of president, held for the past four years by Yolanda Kakabadse of Equador, has traditionally tended to be that of figurehead, with the executive function falling to the director-general, at present Achim Steiner, a German.
But from Moosa's election platform, which he set out at this week's media briefing, he seems bound to adopt a more hands-on approach.