Political development in South Africa -- Patterns of local governance : Africa's colonial legacy -- The colonial origins of local control in South Africa -- Authoritarian institutions and governance : the British come to the Cape -- From colonialism to apartheid : state structures at the base -- The urban local state in apartheid era -- The local state vs. local governance after apartheid -- Where's the money? : the fiscal debate -- The special challenges of rural local governance -- The continuing role of traditional authorities -- The dilemmas of decentralized governance.