/ 12 October 2000

LEADERS REMAIN WARY OVER POLL

TRADITIONAL leaders have expressed hope that President Thabo Mbeki will find an interim solution to their concerns to avoid conflict with municipalities after the local government elections on 5 December. The government and traditional leaders have been at loggerheads on the new municipality boundaries, which the chiefs say encroach on their powers. The dispute resulted in three delays of the announcement of an election date. – Own Correspondent