Ramaphosa most influential government leader on X, study shows

President Cyril Ramaphosa is the most influential government leader in South Africa according to the latest study by Decode Communications called “south African Government Leader, ” which is the 4th annual edition.

Ramaphosa is the most followed politician with 2.7 million followers, followed by Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe with 535 million and Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Minister in Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities with 437 million followers.

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STUDY DID NOT INCLUDE MALEMA, MBALULA AND STEENHUISEN

Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Zizi Kodwa is fourth with 247 241 million followers, followed by Minister of Tourism Patricia De Lille with 224 million. Decode Communications is a digital Public Relations agency that provides real-time data analysis of how government leaders utilise digital platforms.

According to the Independent Online (IoL), the study did not include the likes of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema, who has 4.1 million followers on X, and Fikile Mbalula, the ANC’s seANC’sry-general who has 4 million followers. The Democratic Alliance’s (DA) John Steenhuisen has 225,000 followers.

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DATA ANALYSED OVER THE YEAR TO PROVIDE KEY INSIGHT

For the top five most engaged government leaders, President Ramaphosa recorded the highest engagement, followed by Panyaza Lesufi, Naledi Pandor, and Bheki Cele (both of whom are not on X), then by Gwede Mantashe.

The data for the study was analysed over a year from December 2022 to December 2023, and it highlights vital conversation topics such as Energy, which is dominated by Ministers Mantashe and Pravin Gordhan, alongside crime and safety, with Minister Bheki Cele as a focal point.

The study also offers insights into the ways leaders and their representatives interact with citizens, shaping policies and services.

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