In a revealing new analysis from DataEQ, the City of Tshwane emerged as the best-performing metro in South Africa in terms of public sentiment, while Johannesburg ranked lowest—highlighting a widening trust gap in municipal service delivery.
The Pulse of the People quarterly report analysed nearly 300,000 public online mentions between December 2024 and February 2025 across Cape Town, Johannesburg, Tshwane, and eThekwini. Using a hybrid intelligence approach that combines AI with human verification, the report captures how South Africans feel about their cities—and why.
Tshwane recorded the least negative sentiment, driven by praise for clean water access, proactive leadership, and visible service improvements such as cleanup campaigns and law enforcement. In contrast, Johannesburg drew the highest level of public dissatisfaction, with residents expressing deep frustration over persistent power outages, water shortages, collapsing infrastructure, security concerns and limited communication from city officials.
Net Sentiment Cities Ranking
“This report shows just how closely public trust is tied to lived experience,” said Sarah Lamb, Head of Client Services at DataEQ. “Residents are highly engaged—and they’re holding municipalities accountable in real time. If delivery falls short, so does sentiment. That’s especially true for a city like Johannesburg, which is preparing to host the G20 Summit. With the world watching, the stakes are even higher—service delivery failures aren’t just local issues, they’re reputational risks on the global stage.”
Key Findings:
- Tshwane had the highest proportion of positive conversation (15%) and the lowest negative sentiment (24%).
- Joburg had the highest volume of criticism, with 34% of conversation expressing negative sentiment and only 4% offering praise.
- Water was the most discussed issue, accounting for just under half of all service delivery complaints in Cape Town and eThekwini.
Drivers of Public Sentiment
Report Overview
The report, which provides city-by-city sentiment ranking emphasises that residents respond positively to visible, tangible improvements, particularly in essential services. Campaigns and positive reputational announcements alone were not enough—delivery on the ground is what truly moved public opinion.