Democracy Reports

Bi-Weekly Social Listening Updates & Recommendations for Electoral Engagement #10

The 10th bi-weekly electoral factsheet identified nearly 800,000 mentions related to the post electoral period in South Africa. Analysing the discussion between 1 and 18 June 2024, the most prominent topics include: Allegations of the election results being fraudulent, conversation and concern around the formation of a Government of National Unity, and the emergence of …

Bi-Weekly Social Listening Updates & Recommendations for Electoral Engagement #10 Read More »

Bi-Weekly Social Listening Updates & Recommendations for Electoral Engagement #9

Conversation around the national election garnered over a million online mentions from May 24 to 31, 2024. This fact sheet seeks to identify hot-button topics which emerged over week of the election. Topics include issues of voter education, disruptions to the voting process, shared reflection on the experience of voting and instances of mis- and …

Bi-Weekly Social Listening Updates & Recommendations for Electoral Engagement #9 Read More »

Russian Twitter Influence In South Africa: The Kremlin’s in the System

As researchers throughout Africa seek to understand the social media landscape better, many have focused on Russian interference on social media platforms. The Institute for Security Studies reported ahead of the 2024 elections that due to the weak checks and balances of new democracies on the continent, Russia considers Africa to be an attractive target… …

Russian Twitter Influence In South Africa: The Kremlin’s in the System Read More »

Bi-Weekly Social Listening Updates & Recommendations for Electoral Engagement #8

The online elections conversation received more than 350,000 mentions between 1 and 14 May 2024. The DA’s election ad, which depicted the burning of the South African flag, was among the biggest talking points during the period. Posts either criticising politicians for being out of touch with the lived realities of South Africans, or resorting …

Bi-Weekly Social Listening Updates & Recommendations for Electoral Engagement #8 Read More »

From RET to MK Party The mobilisation of existing communities to drive political messaging

Since December 2023, the CABC noticed a rapid increase in the popularity of the newly formed MK party online. With the assistance of Murmur, a research company with expertise in digital landscape tracking, this report analyses deeply how a South African online Twitter community that existed before the formation of the MK party shifted their …

From RET to MK Party The mobilisation of existing communities to drive political messaging Read More »

Bi-Weekly Social Listening Updates & Recommendations for Electoral Engagement #7

Sentiments that politicians would do anything for votes and that government could fix South Africa’s challenges if it wanted to, formed part of the online elections conversation between 16 and 30 April 2024. Other topics within the conversation, which received more than 350,000 mentions, included the launch of the EFF’s Vuka! Vela! Vota! ad; reports …

Bi-Weekly Social Listening Updates & Recommendations for Electoral Engagement #7 Read More »

Bi-Weekly Social Listening Updates & Recommendations for Electoral Engagement #6

The online elections conversation received more than 300,000 mentions between 2 April and 15 April 2024. The IEC’s decision to appeal the Electoral Court’s order, which allowed former president Jacob Zuma to be included in the MK Party list, was the main talking point during this period. The CABC also noted attempts to shut down …

Bi-Weekly Social Listening Updates & Recommendations for Electoral Engagement #6 Read More »

Bi-Weekly Social Listening Updates & Recommendations for Electoral Engagement #4

The EFF and MK Party have remained popular within the online elections conversation, which garnered more than 350,000 mentions on X (formerly Twitter) between 1 and 17 March. Researchers also detected posts containing mis- and disinformation – aimed at casting doubt on the integrity of the IEC. Some proponents of the online anti-immigrant narrative also …

Bi-Weekly Social Listening Updates & Recommendations for Electoral Engagement #4 Read More »

Bi-Weekly Social Listening Updates & Recommendations for Electoral Engagement #3

The online elections conversation received more than 450,000 mentions between 12 and 29 February 2024. Among the biggest talking points were the announcement that elections would take place on 29 May and the removal of Western Cape Judge President John Hlope. Online debates were recorded between individuals who criticised the youth of waiting to be …

Bi-Weekly Social Listening Updates & Recommendations for Electoral Engagement #3 Read More »