THE LOCAL ELECTIONS IN KWAZULU-NATAL - 26 JUNE 1996

The transformation of local government is an essential part of democra tization in South Africa. The difficulties of restructuring against a background of exclusion, inequality and conflict are sharpened and com plicated in KwaZulu-Natal by the conflict between the ANC and the Inka tha Freedom Party (IFP). The thrice-postponed local elections, which f inally took place in June 1996 (seven months later than most of the re st of the country) represented the first major test of party strength in the province since the disputed general election of April 1994. The principal result of the election was that the IFP remained the majori ty party in KwaZulu-Natal, bur with a severe loss of support in the ur ban areas, which was compensated for by an even bigger turn-out in its rural strongholds. The balance of power revealed by the local electio n results will be influential in determining the course of the peace p rocess, through which the ANC and the IFP are addressing their differe nces. As South Africa's parties move from the era of negotiation and c onstitution-making and look forward to the 1999 general election, the results of the KwaZulu-Natal local elections will also provide some cl ues as to tile prospects of party realignment.