In the context of South Africa, public participation is a critical and most essential tool that is used to foster good governance, accountability and transparency that inevitably leads to better and efficient service delivery. It is in this context, therefore, that a 'true' public participation becomes a cornerstone, and a significant pillar of democracy. Inclusivity and participation by the citizens became a major intervention in a post-apartheid South Africa, where all the people were afforded the opportunity to 'equally' participate, especially at the local level. The aim was to democratise local government, and to decentralise the decision-making processes. This conceptual article argues that public participation is essential for democracy and is a pivotal process for effective service delivery. This article will firstly interrogate the notion of public participation in South Africa, primarily in the context of th