The two parties are still sharp rivals, especially in Kwa-Zulu Natal province.

ECONOMIST: South Africa set to plod on with Mbeki | The

People such as Kevin Petzer, a 65-year-old Zimbabwean who still roams South Africa, Mozambique and Namibia from his base in the KwaZulu-Natal province in eastern South Africa.

WSJ: In Geology, Old-Timers Can Be Worth Their Weight in Gold

For 15 years, as a hospital doctor in the rural town of Tugela Ferry, in the heart of South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province, he had watched locals with extinguished immune systems die from infections like tuberculosis, unable to give them medicine that worked.

ECONOMIST: South Africa

If the Natal-based province had won through to this Saturday's final, De Villiers would have had just seven days to incorporate the Sharks players into his set-up.

BBC: Jones eager for Springboks test

The Zulu nationalist Inkatha Freedom Party failed to win its home province of KwaZulu-Natal.

ECONOMIST: A president without rivals

He will play his final first-class game in his native country when Western Province face KwaZulu-Natal in the Supersport Series final.

BBC: Henderson set for new start