{"id":23127,"date":"2026-01-30T17:37:56","date_gmt":"2026-01-30T15:37:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jhb-webdevelopers\/channelafrica\/news\/decode-report-reveals-widening-contrasts-in-sa-government-state-owned-company-credibility-on-x\/"},"modified":"2026-02-27T16:33:59","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T14:33:59","slug":"decode-report-reveals-widening-contrasts-in-sa-government-state-owned-company-credibility-on-x","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/news\/decode-report-reveals-widening-contrasts-in-sa-government-state-owned-company-credibility-on-x\/","title":{"rendered":"Decode report reveals widening contrasts in SA government, state\u2011owned company credibility on X"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 2025 study highlights stark differences in how government departments and State\u2011Owned Companies (SOCs) engaged with the public and managed their reputations on X (formerly Twitter). <\/span><\/p>\n

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While some institutions recorded notable improvements in transparency and responsiveness, others continued to struggle with credibility, accountability and digital engagement.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Speaking to Channel Africa on Friday, Decode Chief Executive Officer Lorato Tshenkeng explained that previous editions of the report focused solely on the national Cabinet and provincial executives. The latest edition, however, significantly widens the scope to include 275 public entities and SOCs, reflecting their central role in SA\u2019s $120 billion economy.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Tshenkeng noted that institutions such as Eskom, which underpin the functioning of the entire economy through power generation, must be evaluated not only on service delivery but also on how they engage citizens on digital platforms during periods of crisis.<\/span><\/p>\n

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One of the report\u2019s most striking findings is the limited social\u2011media presence of SOC executives. Tshenkeng said that, unlike Cabinet members, more than 80% of whom are active on X, fewer than 20% of SOC CEOs maintain accounts on the platform.<\/span><\/p>\n

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He described this as a missed opportunity, especially at a time when public trust in institutions is low. \u201cPeople want to connect with humans,\u201d he said. \u201cIn moments of crisis, a direct human presence on X can help restore confidence in a way that institutional accounts alone cannot.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The report also identifies a growing trend in which coalition politics and intra\u2011party tensions play out on public platforms. Tshenkeng pointed to departments led by political principals from different parties, such as the Ministry of Communications, where the minister is from the Democratic Alliance and the deputy minister from the African National Congress. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Policy disagreements, including debates over Starlink\u2019s entry into SA and amendments to the Public Broadcaster Bill, increasingly surface on X. Such public exchanges, he said, can confuse citizens and complicate communication efforts within shared\u2011governance arrangements.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Asked how the report\u2019s insights should shape government communication strategies, Tshenkeng stressed three key principles:<\/span><\/p>\n