The aim of this study is to determine how literature teaching in a multicultural context can be used effectively to promote intercultural communication and understanding in South Africa, a relatively young democracy in a period of transition. A selection of short stories from the chosen short story anthologies, Taxi (1996) and Keerpunt(1995), will be analysed with reference to both key elements from theories about intercultural communication and the criteria for multicultural texts. The study will be concluded by a statement about the suitability of the chosen anthologies to promote intercultural communication and understanding through the teaching of literature within a multicultural context. Die doel van hierdie studie is om ondersoek in te stel na hoe literatuuronderrig in 'n multikulturele konteks effektief gebruik kan word om interkulturele kommunikasie en begrip te bevorder veral noudat Suid Afrika ' n relatief nuwe demokrasie in 'n oorgangsperiode is. Hierdie doel word nagestreef deur geselekteerde kortverhale uit die gekose kortverhaalbundels, Taxi (1996) en Keerpunf (1995), te analiseer met verwysing na kernelemente vanuit die teorievorming oor interkulturele kommunikasie asook die kriteria vir 'n multikulturele teks. Aan die einde van hierdie studie word aangedui of die gekose kortverhaalbundels geskikte tekste is om interkulturele kommunikasie en begrip in 'n multikulturele konteks te bevorder deur literatuuronderrig. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2001.