The study attempts to analyse the political conflict between the African National Congress/United Democratic Front and Inkatha/Inkatha Freedom Party in the South African province of kwaZulu-Natal from early in 1980 to late 1996 during which over 20,000 people were killed.

The book has several flaws. It relies heavily on media reports and anecdotal evidence of the conflict. There is little evidence of any serious original research.Its major flaw is two-fold. Firstly, it fails to accord sufficient attention to the role played by Inkatha as armed and trained surrogates of the apartheid state.Secondly,it attempts to whitewash the role played by Inkatha in the political turmoil of the time.

A well-researched and incisive account of the conflict, which correctly identifies the role of the South African government is long overdue. ( )