Social audits: powerful community tools to ensure government accountability

Abstract

A core component of South Africa's constitution is the commitment to ensure public participation in governance, giving effect to a representative and participatory democratic state. But as the presidency's 15-year review in 2008 noted, there is an urgent need for strengthening innovative approaches to fostering participatory democracy. Annette Verryn et al report on a case study that illustrates the challenges for communities in ensuring government accountability and responsiveness.