VOTING neared a peaceful close in local elections yesterday in South Africa's Zulu region, torn by rampant political violence in the past decade.
Two thirds of the way through 15 hours of polling, election officials from around the lush KwaZulu Natal province along the Indian Ocean had reported no major incidents of bloodshed.
The rand currency and financial markets ended the day stronger, buoyed by the good news after months of nervousness that the already thrice delayed poll could destabilise the province where a fifth of the country lives.
Police and troops flooded into KwaZulu Natal to deter supporters of the Zulu based Inkatha Freedom Party, or their rivals in President Nelson Mandela's African National Congress, from intimidating voters. More than a dozen candidates have been murdered in the run up to the polls.
Officials said that with no major problems by late in the day, except minor skirmishes, they were optimistic the last five hours would go smoothly. The first results are not due till late today.
Political analysts expected the ANC to do well in the port of Durban and other cities, with the conservative, traditional Inkatha winning most support in the countryside.