DataEQ's South African Mayors Report, based on an anlaysis of more than 700,000 public mentions between 1 February and 31 July 2025 towards eight of South Africa’s most prominent mayors, has revealed striking contrasts in how citizens perceive their leaders.
While Tshwane’s Dr Nasiphi Moya and Cape Town’s Geordin Hill-Lewis attracted praise for visible service delivery, infrastructure improvements, and community engagement, peers such as Dada Morero (Johannesburg), Nkosindiphile Xhakaza (Ekurhuleni), and Gregory Nthatisi (Mangaung) faced intense criticism over governance failures, service delivery breakdowns, corruption allegations, and collapsing public trust.
Sarah Lamb, Head of Client Services at DataEQ, said: “The findings show that visible delivery and transparency are the strongest levers of public trust. Citizens are increasingly using online platforms to hold leaders accountable, but also to acknowledge genuine progress. Mayors who combine credible communication with tangible action are seeing clear reputational gains.”
Moya and Hill-Lewis recognised for delivery-focused leadership
Dr Nasiphi Moya (Tshwane) recorded the highest overall Net Sentiment of +8%, with citizens praising her “hard-working” reputation, visible infrastructure improvements, commitment to debt recovery and safety initiatives.
Geordin Hill-Lewis (Cape Town) followed closely with –5% Net Sentiment, earning recognition for proactive service delivery and city upgrades. His posts drew the most positive engagement of any mayor, with residents frequently describing him as “the best mayor”.
Governance failures and alleged corruption erode confidence for other mayors
At the other end of the scale, Ekurhuleni’s Nkosindiphile Xhakaza (–50%) and Johannesburg’s Dada Morero (–41%) faced the sharpest criticism, with public conversation dominated by allegations of nepotism, corruption, and mismanagement.
Mangaung’s Gregory Nthatisi (–32%), Buffalo City’s Princess Faku (–8%), and Nelson Mandela Bay’s Babalwa Lobishe (–12%) were also widely criticised, much of it targeting personal credibility, which was also linked to allegations of corruption and general incompetence.
Social media reveals the gap between perception and performance
Analysis of mayors’ official social media activity revealed a clear disconnect between messaging and public response. While most leaders used their platforms to highlight community initiatives and infrastructure projects, engagement was dominated by citizen frustration, with replies focusing on unmet service delivery expectations and weak communication. Dr Nasiphi Moya and Geordin Hill-Lewis were notable exceptions, generating both significant engagement, while also effectively using their accounts to showcase progress, reinforce visibility, and build civic pride.
A need for visible action and transparent governance
The report highlights that credibility can be rebuilt through open governance, clear communication, and consistent progress on essential services such as water, electricity, roads, and waste.
Sarah Lamb added: “These conversations are more than complaints, they’re a roadmap. The data points to where citizens want leaders to show up most strongly: in everyday delivery, integrity, and accountability.”