What happens when the local communities' patience runs out with what they perceive as unaccountable local authorities? To what extent do South Africa's public representatives seek to fulfil the public service mandates and leadership roles for which they were elected in regular five-yearly elections? How effective are current forms of public participation and consultation in addressing local communities' concerns on local democracy and governance issues? Twenty-three years into a democratic political order, South Africa continually experiences bouts of public disaffections through "service delivery" public protests that essentially question the accountability of public representatives to local communities. This paper examines the challenges of public accountability as identified by local communities in the Moutse area of the Ephraim Mogale Local Municipality (2013- 2016). Relying on data from the community electi