It would appear that over the past nine years civil society organisations (CSOs) and social activists in South Africa have missed many opportunities to ensure improvements in the delivery of socio-economic rights. A common thread running through the strategic failures is the absence of a coherent concept of accountability. Progressive civil society needs to embrace a new brand of social activism informed by a new philosophy of 'direct' and 'active' accountability. In terms of this philosophy, CSOs and social activists should strive to hold elected politicians and public officials directly accountable, for the performance of their duties and responsibilities, in an active and sustained manner, according to Colm Allan, Director, of the Public Service Accountability Monitor (PSAM), an anti-corruption body.