Provincial Election Mostly Peaceful

The violence-torn province of KwaZulu-Natal held its first election for post-apartheid local governments Wednesday amid massive troop deployments and fears of political clashes that did not materialize.

This Indian Ocean province that is home to 9 million mostly Zulu people has been the scene of more than a decade of violence that has left 14,000 dead in fighting between Zulu supporters of both the African National Congress and the Inkatha Freedom Party. The ANC, led by President Nelson Mandela, is the ruling national party, while Inkatha, led by Mangosuthu Buthelezi, controls the provincial legislature.

Fears of election day violence sparked a police and defense force deployment of more than 30,000. But throughout a day in which 3.5 million registered voters were eligible to cast ballots, no political violence was reported, except for minor fistfights and rock-throwing. Complaints of voter intimidation by both parties were voiced at some polling stations, and long delays were experienced at several locations when unregistered people turned out to vote.

The local balloting here completes South Africa’s transition from apartheid to democracy, officially removing the system of white minority rule from the local tier of government. KwaZulu-Natal is the last region of the country to hold such elections.