A new kind of activist politics in which everyone can participate - from the city dweller to the remotest villager - is made possible through e-tools.
Speaking at the Friedrich Naumann Foundation Workshop, in Germany, yesterday, Democratic Alliance (DA) Parliamentary leader, Lindiwe Mazibuko, said the official opposition's social media campaign enables it to speak to people in a way that is not mediated by the traditional press.
“One could call it the new politics of the neighbourhood. As a party, we believe in the potential of e-tools to harness creativity and find innovative solutions to complex public policy problems.”
The party uses social networks Twitter, Facebook and Mxit in an attempt to reach citizens.
iPad generation
“As the 'Third Industrial Revolution' gathers pace, we have witnessed how the diffusion of power is reshaping and flattening the world,” said Mazibuko.
She added that South Africans, young and old, are moving away from old forms of political communications.
“As a young politician, I cannot imagine how hard it was to do the job before the advent of the iPad and smartphone, and often wonder why any political party would choose to be resistant to the many advantages offered by technological innovation.”
Tweeting Zuma
Due to SA's vast geographical territory, the new technologies mean politicians can constantly interact with the public. Mazibuko explained that this is especially considering SA's 95% mobile telephone penetration, and over 70% mobile Internet penetration.
“There are one million users of Twitter in SA and growing. Of the close on five million Facebook users, 60% are aged between 18 and 34. The youth age cohort is the largest source of traffic to the DA Web site.”
She also said the DA is perhaps best known for its Twitter presence.
In February, president Jacob Zuma urged citizens to submit comments around issues they would like covered in the State of the Nation Address via social networking sites, specifically Twitter.
The Presidency advised that comments could be submitted via the president's personal Twitter account @SAPresident, or by using #PresidentSona. Suggestions could also be given via the Presidency's Facebook page.
During the State of the Nation Address last year, citizens drew Zuma's attention to various challenges in their localities relating to service delivery, via Facebook.
The DA started Twitter Town Halls in SA during the 2011 local government elections. DA public representatives replied to live questions in real-time. Last week it started using Mxit to interact with young people.
Mazibuko said the party uses Facebook to share news about where the DA governs, as well as photographs, graphics, videos of campaigns and rallies, and links to news stories on its Web site.
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