Bono and O'Neill tour reaches South Africa

Wearing his trademark blue tinted sunglasses, U2 star Bono joined his travelling partner, US Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill, for meetings with South Africa’s president and finance minister today.

Bono and O’Neill were touring several African countries in what has been billed as a fact-finding mission by the Treasury, and as an exercise in persuasion by the Irish pop legend.

‘‘He is the man in charge of America’s wallet and, it is true, I want to open that wallet,’’ Bono said.

The two men arrived from Ghana this afternoon and immediately met President Thabo Mbeki.

‘‘The three of us have a passion for seeing the world’s living standards increase quickly for people who have been poor too long,’’ O’Neill said.

Then, in an apparent breach of diplomatic protocol, Bono participated in a meeting between O’Neill and Finance Minister Trevor Manuel, a meeting that would usually only include the finance ministers and their staffs.

Manuel, in a three-piece suit, called Bono, who has fought to erase third world debt and publicise the issue of poverty, ‘‘an old friend’’.

Bono praised O’Neill for inviting him on the trip that will also take them to Ethiopia and Uganda.

‘‘I think it is very daring, very bold to have me on his plane. I’m very messy,’’ the lead singer of the Irish rock band U2 said.

Bono has said he was determined to show the sometimes sceptical Republican that aid can be put to good use on the problem-plagued continent.

‘‘It is the continent of the future. The 21st Century is Africa’s century. We just don’t want to wait till the end of the century to get it right,’’ Bono said.

Tomorrow, the men plan to visit an Aids research clinic and a housing project. They plan to leave South Africa for Uganda on Sunday.