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S. African President Condemns Violent Incidents During Elections
South African President Thabo Mbeki condemned two incidents of violence during the local government elections, which left six people dead.
Speaking to representatives from all political parties in Pretoria, Mbeki said: "People have died and I think we must condemn that ... I hope that this will not occur elsewhere in the country."
Mbeki said he has met with Safety and Security Minister Steve Tshwete to discuss the two incidents, one on the East Rand, 50 kilometers east of Johannesburg, and the other in the northeastern Province of KwaZulu-Natal.
The local government elections, which began on Tuesday morning, have taken an unfortunate turn when five people were shot dead at a polling station in Katlehong on the East Rand and a voter was killed in faction fighting near Nongoma in the KwaZulu-Natal Province.
The president urged all political parties to avoid violence and accept the election outcome once it comes out.
Chief executive officer of the Independent Electoral Commission Mandla Mchunu said it was not clear at this stage whether the violence on the East Rand was related to the elections.
Local Election Marred by ViolenceSeveral violent incidents occurred Tuesday during the local government elections in South Africa, according to the South African Press Association.
Five people were shot dead at a polling station in Katlehong on the East Rand, about 50 kilometers east of Johannesburg, but it was still unclear whether the incident was related to the elections, said Mandla Mchunu, chief executive officer of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
The Katlehong station have been closed and security forces have been dispatched to restore order, according to the report.
In the northeastern KwaZulu-Natal Province, voting was marred by two incidents of violence which left one voter dead, IEC electoral officer Chris Mzoneli said.
In another development, a petrol bomb was thrown at an African National Congress campaign tent and 56 windows were smashed at a school polling station in Port Shepstone in KwuZulu-Natal, but no one was injured.
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