Haffajee among top 10 most influential political voices on Twitter

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The list of the top 10 political tweeters was determined using data from Klout (klout.com), the standard for influence. Klout analyses engagement across social networks and creates a Klout score, based on this data, to help users understand and unlock their influence.

The global public affairs and digital consultants drew up a list of close to 1000 people on Twitter who are politically influential in the G-20 nations. Klout then assessed and scored them against its influence metric, set on a scale from 1-100, measuring influence based upon a user's ability to drive action.

Ferial Haffajee

Top 10 (in no particular order):

• Ferial Haffajee (@ferialhaffajee)
  
• Barney Mthombothi (@mthombothi)
  
• Daniel Silke (@danielsilke)
  
• Helen Zille (@helenzille)
  
• Jacob Zuma (@SAPresident)
  
• Lindiwe Mazibuko (@LindiMazibuko)
  
• Professor Jonathan Jansen (@JJ_UFS)
  
• Ralph Mathekga (@ralphmathekga)
  
• Bobby Godsell (@BobbyGodsell
  
• Zackie Achmat (@ZackieAchmat)

"South Africa is rated as the 10th largest user of Twitter in the world and the most avid Twitter user on the continent. On a global scale, the political landscape has identified Twitter as means to engage the community and shape online debate. Locally, however, political leaders are behind their global counterparts and aren't as actively engaged on this media," said Hemant Lala, MD at Arcay Burson-Marsteller.

The study found that the top political tweeters in South Africa include politicians, journalists and political analysts, among others. It also found that over a 90-day span these influencers received an average of 5 916 re-tweets; an average of 5 489 mentions and had an average of 28 468 Twitter followers.

To see the in-depth global results of this research, go to www.g20influencers.com.

Updated at 3.12pm on 17 April 2012.
Infographic added at 3.20pm on 17 April 2012.