Abstract

DE HAAS, Mary. The killing fields of KZN: Local government elections, violence and democracy in 2016. SA crime q. [online]. 2016, n.57, pp.43-53. ISSN 2413-3108.  http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2413-3108/2016/v0n57a456.

This article explores the intersections between party interests, democratic accountability and violence in KwaZulu-Natal. It begins with an overview of the legacy of violence in the province before detailing how changes in the African National Congress (ANC) since the 2007 Polokwane conference are inextricably linked to internecine violence and protest action. It focuses on the powerful eThekwini Metro region, including intra-party violence in the Glebelands hostel ward. These events provide a crucial context to the violence preceding the August 2016 local government elections. The article calls for renewed debate about how to counter the failure of local government.

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