The African Union (AU) said on Thursday it has sent a 42-strong observer mission to South Africa for next week's elections.

The mission is led by Salim Ahmed Salim, the former prime minister of Tanzania and former secretary-general of the Organisation of African Unity, the AU said in a statement.

It includes members of the AU Parliament, officials from African election bodies and members of civil society, and will be deployed around the country.

The South African Development Community sent a team of more than 100 election observers to South Africa earlier this month for the April 22 poll.