Several political parties and politicians in Africa understand the importance of using social media tools to engage with citizens and party members. Today we are looking at the Democratic Alliance, South Africa's Official Opposition and its leader, Western Cape Premier Helen Zille.<\/p>\n
The Democratic Alliance<\/a> officially launched its social media strategy<\/a> in February 2009, which includes two interactive websites, online advertising and marketing, SMS communication, mobile web access and engagement with voters via social networking and in the blogosphere.<\/p>\n The DA has a social media campaign site,<\/a> official site<\/a> and a mobile site<\/a>. <\/p>\n The party has a Twitter page <\/a>with latest news feed posted on its website. The party has 1,370 followers. <\/p>\n DA's latest tweets:<\/p>\n Department's R126-million debt threatens to halt printing of all passports http:\/\/bit.ly\/c8V4Qy 18 minutes ago via twitterfeed \u2028<\/p>\n Limpopo premier agrees that teaching should be declared an essential service. Does the national minister agree? http:\/\/bit.ly\/by1m7L 18 minutes ago via twitterfeed \u2028<\/p>\n Corruption thrives in tenders under R200 000 http:\/\/bit.ly\/bkkOcT 19 minutes ago via twitterfeed \u2028<\/p>\n Transport Department's R76-million conference splurge – enormous wasteful expenditure includes R12-million on VIP … http:\/\/bit.ly\/bkeid8 about 4 hours ago via twitterfeed \u2028<\/p>\n Eskom refuses to explain preferential tariff rates – is this Chancellor House all over again? http:\/\/bit.ly\/9HiiKo about 4 hours ago via twitterfeed \u2028<\/p>\n SAA fails to appear before Parliament, after Operations Manager is thrown off SAA flight http:\/\/bit.ly\/bAqhob about 5 hours ago via twitterfeed \u2028<\/p>\n DA welcomes Mtimkulu's suspension http:\/\/bit.ly\/9WxKv5 about 5 hours ago via twitterfeed \u2028<\/p>\n DCS: satellite tracking devices only way to reliable alternative sentencing http:\/\/bit.ly\/aEyERf about 5 hours ago via twitterfeed <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Its leader Helen Zille has a Twitter page<\/a> and a Facebook account<\/a>.<\/p>\n Below is one of latest messages<\/a> from Zille's Facebook page:<\/p>\n As the elected President of our Republic, Jacob Zuma needs to accept that his behaviour will be held up for public scrutiny. If he doesn\u2019t like this, he is free to resign. Elected leaders must be held to account. If their actions contradict their stated public positions (not to mention their government\u2019s policies) they must answer for that. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n And comments from South African citizens:<\/p>\n Anna Van Vuuren What sort of an example is Mr Z displaying to our youth? It will just lead them all to hospital with HIV and AIDS!!!!!! Mike Immelman He might be doing us a favour. We'll just have to bring our own children up the right way. Tom Parkin Jacob Zuma needs to step down. Linda van der Westhuizen With a colourful nation like this who can go wrong with a Zuma on the ladder……. Ruth Heynsthomas Coley AMEN! He has become an embarresment to our people! Amy Glynn Bailey I couldnt agree more after all if our president cant set an example how can we xpect the youth to know the difference between right and wrong!!!!!!! Yoemna Fakier HI HELEN ZUMA NEEDS TO STEP DOWN & YOU NEED TO STEP IN ,,,LOVE U GIRL. In 207 Helen joined Zoopy<\/a> in order to connect with voters using photo and video clips covering current issues. The last time she posted content on the site is one year ago. <\/p>\n Zoopy<\/a> is South Africa's “YouTube”, which allows anyone to sign up and create their own video and photo webpage. <\/p>\n What do South African bloggers think of the DA's use of social media tools?<\/p>\n Mathew Buckland reviewed<\/a> DA's social media strategy in a post titled, “SA Political Party Launches Impressive, Obamaesque Campaign Site”:<\/p>\n So back to the DA site. The DA\u2019s site has the same silky, blue tones as Obama. The navigation and look and feel is professional and clear. The \u201cContribute to Change\u201d not only sounds like Obama, but looks like it was almost taken from his site (similar design, font). (I know he\u2019s an inspirational character, but do we have to rip off his site? What about some Africa theming \u2014 why are we even using the same US presidential font?) Walter Pike's critique <\/a>of the DA social media strategy, “Does the DA get Social Media?”:<\/p>\n Are the Democratic Alliance doing a copy paste of the Obama campaign and using it as their election strategy? Well I don\u2019t know yet, it just seems to me that they may be. If this is what it is about then I think they may have missed the boat. Social media and social media tools are not ends in themselves. They are tools that can be used in marketing and building a brand and propagating an idea. Another South African blogger Justin Hartman who was invited to the launching of DA social media strategy wrote<\/a>: <\/p>\n Both the new DA and Contribute to Change websites are built off open source technology, specifically WordPress, BBPress and BuddyPress, and it's great to see the use of open source to drive the DA's campaign.<\/p>\n I have to commend the DA, its web development team and the guys running the social media strategy behind the scenes on a job well done. I'm only worried that the Contribute to Change website is a little too advanced for a South African audience but only time will tell.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
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\nFebruary 9 at 1:22am<\/p>\n
\nFebruary 9 at 2:58am<\/p>\n
\nFebruary 9 at 12:08pm<\/p>\n
\nFebruary 9 at 10:50pm<\/p>\n
\nFebruary 10 at 12:43am<\/p>\n
\nFebruary 10 at 2:21am<\/p>\n
\nFebruary 10 at 2:44am\n<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
\nPacked with social media functionality
\nThe functionality is innovative and clever, and it\u2019s a good job. The DA site allows you to do a couple of things:
\n\t\u25aa\tDonate: Supporters can donate online in much the same way they could on Obama\u2019s site. Pity they never advertised a premium SMS shortcode number with the credit card payment option that they have. Micropayments via SMS are key revenue spinners on the web because they\u2019re so easy to do. Credit cards are a pain, but most importantly for these elections \u2014 not everyone has got \u2018em.
\n\t\u25aa\tBlogs: Users can sign up for a DA blog, and begin writing and campaigning.
\n\t\u25aa\tSocial network: There\u2019s functionality allowing users to build a social network and recruit friends, although the main option encourages users to enter their friend email addresses manually. The second option allows users to upload their contact lists, although I can see many users getting stuck as it really does not have enough explanation or is clear about the format. The site, critically, does not allow contact or social network mining \u2014 which allows you to add your contacts and build a social network effortlessly and dynamically. In this busy information-laden world, users don\u2019t use functionality that takes a great deal of effort or too many steps.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
\nThe biggest misconception that the casual observer may have of the Obama campaign was that it was merely the digital approach that did it.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n