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This research paper examines social accountability capacity-building activities implemented by Oxfam South Africa in three rural local municipalities within the Alfred Nzo District Municipality to enable informal community-based organisations to hold local government accountable for service non-delivery.

The report examines a pilot project by Oxfam South Africa (OZA) and the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) to empower informal civil society organisations in the Alfred Nzo District Municipality through social accountability tools. While training workshops in Ntabankulu, Matatiele, and Winnie Madikizela Mandela municipalities improved community understanding of local government structures, the implementation of social audits faced significant hurdles. In Winnie Madikizela Mandela Municipality, attempts to audit the Mphuthumi Mafumbatha Stadium were undermined by local patronage networks and political interference, leading to community division and municipal non-cooperation. The report highlights the 'patronage trap,' where civic activism is compromised by clientelistic relations with political elites. Ultimately, the project demonstrated the value of linking community-led social audits with formal oversight by the Auditor General South Africa (AGSA) to uncover project delays and financial discrepancies.