Anti-foreigner groups dominate South Africa’s online election talk, analysis finds
Two anti-foreigner online communities produced 43% of political posts on X in South Africa in the week to October 29, Murmur Intelligence found. The movement has turned on the state ahead of Wednesday's local elections.
South Africa's anti-foreigner movement has turned its online campaign against the government ahead of Wednesday's local elections. That is the finding of an analysis by Murmur Intelligence, published by Daily Maverick as an op-ed. The movement's share of political conversation rebounded sharply in the week from October 23 to 29. Murmur Intelligence tracked political talk on X, popular public Facebook pages and online news. About 760,000 posts on X were linked to South African parties, institutions and politicians. That was up from about 610,000 the week before. Two anti-foreigner communities produced 43% of those posts from 25% of accounts, up from 31% the previous week. The community around activist Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma alone produced 32% of posts. The analysts flagged signs of focused amplification. They said they could not tell whether it came from fans, activists or inauthentic coordination. The clash with the state followed two official moves. Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia went to court to stop the group March and March from protesting around Durban's Home Affairs refugee centre. The ATM party accused the government of trying to silence frustrated citizens. President Cyril Ramaphosa then told Parliament that 510 SANDF members would support police in…
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