Abstract:

This paper argues for the advancement of e-Government programs through a transition towards transformational Government. The focus is on e-Participation supporting the attainment of transformational Government ideals. The study investigates the current status and application of social media platforms within local government information ecologies for improved e-Participation levels. The study is situated in the South African context that, similar to global trends, has seen the proliferation of mobile phones, the internet and an uptake of social media in recent years.

We employ an e-Participation framework to understand the data gathered from local municipalities. The study contributes to the e-Participation literature by highlighting a potential gap in how local government interacts and engages digitally with its citizens vis-a-vis the platforms that are readily available to and used by citizens. The paper finds that an opportunity exists for municipalities to use social media applications for e-Participation goals. For local government practitioners, guiding principles are offered that may inform their strategies when considering the use of social media within the broader e-Participation enabled transformational Government objectives.