US dilemma stirs South Africans

South Africans, like many people the world over, were largely indifferent to the US presidential election during most the campaign…

South Africans, like many people the world over, were largely indifferent to the US presidential election during most the campaign, in large part because neither candidate had the charisma necessary to stir the blood.

But when the election turned into the most closely-fought contest in the history of the US, their indifference mutated to interest.

Even then, though, it was a curiosity about the eventual outcome rather than passionate commitment to either candidate.

The Star, flagship of Dr Tony O'Reilly's Independent Newspapers in South Africa, seemed to be carried away by the excitement of the race.

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Its latest edition - on sale in the streets of Johannesburg at lunchtime yesterday, boldly proclaimed "Bush is President" as agency reports cautioned that a recount in the critical state of Florida could change the outcome in Mr Gore's favour.

Not to be outdone, the ruling African National Congress similarly assumed a victory for Mr Bush, while Americans were biting their nails because of the uncertain outcome.

"We wish him luck in his tenure as president and hope that his presidency will see a continuation of healthy relations between the United States and South Africa," the ANC said.

"We further wish to congratulate Al Gore for the brave fight that he put up . . . We can assure him that it is not the end of the healthy relations between the ANC and the Democratic Party."

Whatever the differences between Mr Bush and Mr Gore, they were not apparent to most South Africans.

To them is was a case of Tweedledum versus Tweedledee.

While President Thabo Mbeki worked closely with Mr Gore in the South African-US bi-national commission, media observers were quick to point out that he had visited Mr Bush in his Texas stronghold during his most recent trip to the US and that he and Mr Bush appeared to get on well.

Mr Kevin Wakeford of the South African Chamber of Business spoke for many South Africans when he said: "To us it doesn't matter who wins . . . We have perceived only marginal difference between the foreign economic policies of the Democrats and the Republicans".

South Africans elected Mr Al Gore president of the US by a huge majority in a mock poll held at the US consulate in Cape Town yesterday. Dignitaries, journalists and politicians gave Mr Gore 69 votes, against 18 for Mr George W. Bush and six for Mr Ralph Nader of the Green Party.