Did you know that it wasn't until 1994 that South Africa had universal suffrage - where every adult, regardless of ethnic group or gender, was allowed to vote. In that year too, South Africa returned to the Commonwealth.
The Commonwealth Secretariat is a multinational. It's staff come from different Commonwealth countries for limited periods.
The Commonwealth's friendly, non-threatening way of doing business means that member countries seek help from the Commonwealth-Secretary-General in solving dispute.