Improving citizen-based monitoring in South Africa: A social media model
African Evaluation Journal
| Field | Value | |
| Title | Improving citizen-based monitoring in South Africa: A social media model | |
| Creator | Matlala, Lesedi S. | |
| Description | Background: In contemporary public governance, transparent, accountable, and citizen-centric practices are paramount. Citizen-based monitoring (CBM) of government projects is a promising avenue to uphold these principles. However, there is a pressing need for a more effective, structured, and technologically driven approach to CBM.Objectives: This research aims to present a tailored model for the South African government. Utilising social media, the model seeks to transform CBM practices, enhancing governance and ensuring project success. The limitations of current CBM tools necessitate such a model in South Africa.Method: Rooted in rigorous mixed-methodology research, the model’s development and validation involve in-depth interviews with government officials, local media, and civic organisations, along with a citizen survey and literature review. International best practices in CBM and social media analytics inform its design.Results: The study uncovers that current CBM tools have a dual nature, empowering citizens yet facing context-specific challenges like elite capture and inclusivity issues. Social media emerges as a preferred tool among citizens for monitoring government projects, showcasing its transformative potential in fostering transparency and citizen engagement.Conclusion: By leveraging social media’s dynamic capabilities, this model can enhance transparency, accountability, and project success in South Africa’s governance landscape, marking a significant advancement in the digital era.Contribution: This research introduces a novel CBM model for South Africa, tailored to leverage social media’s transformative potential. Addressing existing limitations in CBM tools provides insights into the challenges and opportunities of utilising social media for government project monitoring. | |
| Publisher | AOSIS | |
| Date | 2024-03-20 | |
| Identifier | 10.4102/aej.v12i1.719 | |
| Source | African Evaluation Journal; Vol 12, No 1 (2024); 13 pages 2306-5133 2310-4988 | |
| Language | eng | |
| Relation |
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:
https://aejonline.org/index.php/aej/article/view/719/1348
https://aejonline.org/index.php/aej/article/view/719/1349
https://aejonline.org/index.php/aej/article/view/719/1351
https://aejonline.org/index.php/aej/article/view/719/1352
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