Most South Africans have access to social media through cellphones; the number stands at approximately 16 million active users, which gives our leaders more reasons to communicate through social media.
Social media also gives our leaders a chance to communicate with their followers in a less cost effective mode.
You cannot carry a radio or a television around but you can carry your cellphone around to have access to social media anytime and anywhere.
Our leaders must communicate with us constantly to avoid misunderstandings that lead to industrial actions.
A lot of misunderstandings and industrial action in the country are started by poor communication and wrong use of communication channels.
I believe the country has achieved a lot but such has not been communicated to the public.
Our councilors face great challenges because the communities feel they are not performing their duties adequately and it has resulted in some of them lossing their lives.
The platform that social media provides can be used to create a healthy relationship with community leaders and their members or followers.
It allows ordinary community members an opportunity to ask questions, get feedback and to know what’s happening around them.
The information can also be communicated in their own language rather than in English, hence the cause why mass media is not that effective for communication with a specific group or community.
It is compulsory for leaders to be on social media in order to communicate with their followers and also to enhance their brand.
The more leaders engage with followers, the less industrial actions and confusion that is created by not knowing what is happening around us.
