Journalists should watch CINIA’s monthly tracker for campaign trends and emerging risks
Johannesburg is generating more online election conversation than any of South Africa’s other major metros, according to a new analysis by the Centre for Information Integrity in Africa. The report, Joburg Pushes Most Buttons: Q2 Tracker Reveals Online Flashpoints in South Africa’s Cities, is part of a monthly series the centre will be publishing. This analysis tracks what political parties and mayoral candidates discussed on social media between April and June 2026.
Johannesburg accounted for 36.84% of the metro-related election conversation captured, followed by Tshwane at 21.08%, Cape Town at 19.17% and Ekurhuleni at 9.15%. Election discussion about eThekwini made up just 8.15% of the dataset.
For journalists covering the local elections, the tracker is a useful starting point for identifying the issues, candidates and political messages gaining attention in each city. In Johannesburg, much of the conversation focused on DA front woman Helen Zille, ActionSA’s Herman Mashaba and current ANC mayor Dada Morero. Service delivery, municipal finances, policing, infrastructure and immigration were among the main campaign themes.
The analysis also shows why journalists should be careful about using likes or popular posts as evidence of wider political support. The ANC did not feature as often in the best-performing posts, but its campaign hashtags appeared frequently. Paid promotion, coordinated posting and repeated hashtag use can all make a campaign appear more popular than it is.
Immigration also appeared across several metros, often linked by politicians and online campaigners to crime, unemployment and failing services. These claims require careful verification and context, rather than simple repetition.
Journalists looking for story leads, comparisons between metros and a clearer picture of how parties are campaigning online should visit the CINIA website to read the full analysis. The tracker includes breakdowns for all eight metros and will be updated monthly ahead of the elections, making it a practical resource for following changing campaign narratives.
