South Africa elections mostly peaceful

November 1, 1995
Web posted at: 9 p.m. EST 0100 GMT

From Johannesburg Bureau Chief Mike Hanna

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (CNN) -- At sunrise Wednesday the lines began to form as the process of creating a real democracy continued.

Eighteen months after their first free elections, the people of South Africa again went to the polls. This time, they were electing local rather than national representatives.

Among the first to cast his ballot was African National Congress Regional Premier Tokyo Sexwale. At the age of 42, he was voting for only the second time. "We are closing the full circle of democracy in the hands of the people," said Sexwale. "For me it's a special moment for the second time, like being reborn again.

There were a few isolated incidents of violence and reports of bureaucratic mix-ups preventing registered voters from casting their ballots. But around the country, millions seized the opportunity to exercise their hard-won democratic right.

South Africans are creating the nuts and bolts of real democracy after years of an oppressive apartheid system. They voted Wednesday for regional authorities whose primary task will be to satisfy the essential needs of local communities. The dilapidated state of the polling station at a school in Alexandra township emphasized how great these needs are.

For many people, the promise that democracy would bring a better life is still far from being realized. They cast their votes Wednesday to help reach their goals of better education and housing. (143K AIFF sound or 143K WAV sound)

Police officer Faith Lengwati had a special hope for her vote Wednesday. She said she hopes the newly elected authorities will have greater popular support in their fight against crime. "We need the community to work together with us so that we can overcome this problem," she said.

The presidential motorcade came to one of the more than 700 polling stations, but Nelson Mandela was there merely to observe, not to vote. He was one of more than 3 million registered voters from areas where polling was postponed because of ongoing political disputes.

The troubled province of Kwazulu Natal in one such area. In its capital of Durban, frustrated would-be voters protested ongoing political violence that has prevented community elections from taking place.

But in most areas, voting went smoothly. The process of South Africa's social integration continues in a country where "white" no longer signifies race, but the color of a ballot for all. Final results are expected Friday.

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South Africa elections mostly peaceful

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