NEWS OF ELECTIONS FOR SOUTH AFRICA SPARKS JOY AND VIOLENCE

Cape Town kids hope for changes they feel are inevitable.

Lawrence Wilson, a 16-year-old South African, has witnessed great changes in his country. From the release of Nelson Mandela in 1990 to the promise of elections that will give black South Africans the right to vote, he sees this as a time for hope.

"It's the beginning of a new South Africa. (Mandela's release) sparked off everyone trying to strive for peace and change from apartheid," he said in a telephone interview. Children's Express recently talked with Lawrence and two other teens - Riyaan Simon and Carmen Louw - from Cape Town.

In June, 23 political parties in South Africa signed a declaration of intent to schedule a nationwide election no later than the end of April 1994. Although black South Africans make up about 75 percent of the country's population, they have never been allowed to vote or run for office.

Since 1948, the white-led National Party has implemented the policy of apartheid, or separation of the races. This separation ran through all areas of life, including housing, public transportation and education.

Under apartheid, blacks have had restricted job opportunities and have been paid lower wages than whites. This has forced most of them to live in poor areas stricken with violence.

Something happening

"Finally, negotiations are going through, and finally, something feasible is happening. It is not just all talk, something is actually happening now," said Carmen, 15.

"You get the feeling that Nelson Mandela is released and the long years of struggle are finally paying off," she continued. "Now everyone can have a say in who they want to be governed by. It's more free, obviously."

While news of the elections have sparked joy among many black South Africans, they also have sparked violence. Since elections have been set, hundreds of people have died in the black townships.

"I think the negotiations and more talk of elections started the riots in Cape Town," said Carmen. "The situation where we are was really bad. You couldn't even drive up the highways at night without fear of your life. But now that has ended here."

Most of the township fighting has involved supporters of the African National Congress, which was founded by Nelson Mandela, and the Zulu-dominated Inkatha Freedom Party. Since 1990, black factional violence has claimed more than 10,000 lives.

Riyaan, 14, predicted the ANC will win the elections. "Mr. Mandela has appealed to lots of people," he said.

Mandela is trying to have the vote extended to 14-year-olds, saying that children are the future of the country. However, not all kids are ready to vote and concentrate on the important issues of their country.

"Most of the kids are sensible, but I don't think they are old enough yet to vote. They'll vote silly stuff like . . . school should be closed earlier, stuff like that," Riyaan said.

But Carmen feels that if students are educated properly, they will be capable of voting maturely.

"We have to be educated first," she said. "At our school, at the moment, they are doing voter education. We have courses in it, mock voting and stuff like that. So children are being educated about what to do, or what it's all about. I'm sure after they know what's going on, I'm sure they will be capable."

"I agree with (the younger voting age) because we are the future of the country and the future leaders who will be leading the country and making our future. So we might as well be a part of choosing our leaders," continued Carmen.

Similarities with U.S. teens

While American teen-agers can't vote, they do share many similarities with South African kids. Both like to spend their free time playing sports and video games, shopping and going to social functions.

"I live far from the townships, so life for me isn't anything like it is for children living there. It's normal, it's modern, it's Westernized," Carmen said.

Lawrence would like Americans to know that not all of South Africa is a war zone or a zoo.

"Mostly, there's nothing much going on, like violence and that. It's sunny . . . it's a very beautiful country," he said.

"There aren't lions walking around in the streets and stuff like that."

Although apartheid has been abolished, there are some South Africans who would like to see it revived. Several political groups seek an all-white homeland. But they are a minority.

"It's not everyone that wants to be separated," Riyaan said. "The other whites are quite nice. I don't want to have them separated from me. Because once I got to know them, they were quite nice people."

EDITED BY: Leah Kidwell, 17, Randy McDade, 18