Marthinus van Schalkwyk, former leader of the New National Party who led his followers into the ANC and was rewarded with a ministerial post complete with a Mercedes Benz, driver and bodyguards, is now nominated by the South African government for the job of United Nations climate change boss.

A short ceremony on Sunday with President Jacob Zuma, fresh back from his visit to London, established that Van Schalkwyk, was up for the top job. President Zuma sent his name off to Ban Ki-Moon, the UN secretary general.

The presidency said on Monday: "In his previous portfolio as Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Minister Van Schalkwyk positioned South Africa as a true climate champion.

"During this period he commanded significant respect across the developing-developed country divide. This will count greatly in his favour of driving the global climate change negotiations.

"Given that South Africa will also be hosting the climate change negotiations next year, it would indeed be an honour and privilege for the country to have one of its own to head up this very important UN institution."

However UN secretary general Ban Ki-Moon will also have his ear bent by both India and China about the Indian environment secretary Vijai Sharma.

The job in question - executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is currently filled by Yvo de Boer formerly a Dutch civil servant. He has resigned to join KPMG as climate change adviser in Holland in July.

Despite the great interest in the post, a number of climate specialists believe that a strong political figure might be the way of preventing the kind of debacle that marred the Copenhagen summit in December.