Why Twitter?
Although Facebook has the most number of users in South Africa, like in many other countries β
Twitter is the most news-friendly social media platforms. It is by far the place that journalists are
most likely to spend their social media energies.
Twitter remains the most influential platform used as a channel for news and prompt information sharing
by politicians, government leaders, public representatives, media and communication professionals,
journalists and newsrooms.
Twitter's influence has been elevated by its ability to provide a platform for real-time outrage, consumer
activism, social mobilization by brands and governments.
With these considerations and observations, the biggest question is: are South African members of the
cabinet, their departments and ministers' spokespeople on Twitter?
Categories
Cabinet Member Accounts
National Department Twitter Accounts
Cabinet Member Spokespeople Accounts
Accounts are sorted from most followed to least followed.
@PresidencyZA
Followers: 1763771
Following: 16
Joined twitter on: Mon May 18 08:38:44 2009
@SAPoliceService
Followers: 715610
Following: 2438
Joined twitter on: Mon Jun 20 08:25:53 2011
@HealthZA
Followers: 273220
Following: 1373
Joined twitter on: Thu Jan 20 09:16:59 2011
@DBE_SA
Followers: 222195
Following: 4516
Joined twitter on: Mon Jul 19 07:24:29 2010
@HomeAffairsSA
Followers: 120060
Following: 1739
Joined twitter on: Thu Jun 30 17:35:30 2011
@TreasuryRSA
Followers: 111022
Following: 140
Joined twitter on: Wed Jun 05 06:43:46 2013
@deptoflabour
Followers: 75137
Following: 138
Joined twitter on: Mon Mar 15 07:37:12 2010
@DIRCO_ZA
Followers: 71856
Following: 4221
Joined twitter on: Wed Jan 28 15:14:12 2015
@Dotransport
Followers: 52516
Following: 339
Joined twitter on: Thu Jul 02 21:20:02 2015
@DWS_RSA
Followers: 49613
Following: 8244
Joined twitter on: Thu Jul 31 17:29:52 2014
@NationalCoGTA
Followers: 48015
Following: 38734
Joined twitter on: Mon Nov 11 20:31:12 2013
@The_DSD
Followers: 45953
Following: 5138
Joined twitter on: Wed Mar 04 06:29:13 2015
@DMRE_ZA
Followers: 36219
Following: 365
Joined twitter on: Mon Jun 11 13:18:41 2012
@Tourism_gov_za
Followers: 29914
Following: 338
Joined twitter on: Mon Mar 25 09:29:02 2013
@StateSecurityRS
Followers: 24641
Following: 650
Joined twitter on: Tue Apr 12 07:47:19 2011
@thedpsa
Followers: 23861
Following: 2636
Joined twitter on: Mon Sep 17 08:04:40 2012
@HigherEduGovZA
Followers: 23272
Following: 1344
Joined twitter on: Tue Mar 20 13:08:47 2012
@DALRRDgov_ZA
Followers: 22745
Following: 935
Joined twitter on: Wed Apr 25 09:04:36 2012
@DWYPD_ZA
Followers: 19271
Following: 972
Joined twitter on: Thu Jan 30 11:58:11 2014
@environmentza
Followers: 19219
Following: 1152
Joined twitter on: Mon Jun 29 13:42:19 2015
@The_DHS
Followers: 18551
Following: 1790
Joined twitter on: Mon Apr 15 11:06:09 2013
@DtpsZA
Followers: 16022
Following: 212
Joined twitter on: Mon Aug 13 13:12:13 2012
@DPE_ZA
Followers: 15695
Following: 565
Joined twitter on: Mon Jan 16 14:17:54 2012
@DSBD_SA
Followers: 11111
Following: 78
Joined twitter on: Thu Aug 01 21:02:37 2019
@VeteransZA
Followers: 8884
Following: 288
Joined twitter on: Fri Sep 06 07:24:41 2013
@DepartmentPWI
Followers: 4132
Following: 566
Joined twitter on: Thu Aug 11 06:52:56 2016
@Min_JCS
Followers: 1030
Following: 200
Joined twitter on: Sat Jul 06 10:51:02 2019
@ArtsCultureSA
Followers: 653
Following: 257
Joined twitter on: Tue Mar 31 10:16:15 2020