TK uses humour to approach issues of service delivery
JOBURG – TK indicated that residents could do with a bit of laughter instead of just being bombarded with sad and negative news on a daily basis.
City of Joburg digital manager Tumelo Komape, popularly known as TK on Twitter, is the man who manages the [City’s Twitter account. @CityofJoburgZA]
TK is prominently known for his humorous approach and urgent responses to issues of service delivery, and said every time he speaks people just laugh.
“I only heard about humour from feedback and the media. Even when I thought I was serious. I did not know I sound humorous,” explained Komape.
He continued that he preferred to call his style of work a light-hearted approach to queries.
TK is being himself, thanks for your wild imagination^TK https://t.co/dO8mfdSuRk
— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) January 19, 2016
#Loveback… https://t.co/k9zJd6XuuP
— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) January 18, 2016
As I go to bed^TK https://t.co/F3oiPVpIoX
— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) January 18, 2016
Lol, you are giving me ideas^TK https://t.co/mjOHWBhb2L
— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) January 18, 2016
Where I grew up those would mean our livestock will enjoy. Will log a call^TK https://t.co/vanCeF6nvH
— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) January 18, 2016
Where I grew up those would mean our livestock will enjoy. Will log a call^TK https://t.co/vanCeF6nvH
— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) January 18, 2016
https://twitter.com/CityofJoburgZA/status/689163421208694785]
@bafana_ngwenya wrote “@CityofJoburgZA ^TK works like a slave, I mean he’s working 24/7. What’s up with that? Unless maybe there’s more than one TK,” and his response was, “Lol, you are giving me ideas^TK.”
“Perhaps I should say, I am 100 per cent myself, I just add a touch of professionalism while giving residents the raw person, me, which helps me, I could never go wrong with being me, which is the safest place to be original,” he reckoned.
Komape indicated that the country was bombarded with sad and negative news on a daily basis and that residents could do with a bit of laughter while waiting for power or water to come back. “That is why we get more impressions and visits to our timeline,” he said.
Komape started handling the Joburg Twitter account in December 2012 and now it has more than 187 000 followers.
Talking about the video he posted on twitter on 15 January that infuriated some of the City’s councillors, Komape said a reason for sharing the video was to reach a different audience that may not consume service-related tweets. “The intention was for laughs. Most people found it to be fun. It was a very funny video of boys playing a mpama game,” he further explained. The video has since been deleted.
A tweet asking residents to shower or bath in groups, was also criticised, but Komape explained that it was the most successful tweet of all tweets the City has ever tweeted in the last three years.
“I almost thought it got the whole country talking and thinking about saving water – which was the objective in the first place. It is unconventional but funky and sexy, creative and clever,” he continued.
He explained that people follow many more cool, interesting Twitter accounts than government or municipality accounts. “If you are not fresh, funky, current, and fun and you are a government account, nobody wants to check your account except when they do not have power or water or service,” he indicated.
He concluded that their account was not only about services. “Our strategy is working, hence we are the biggest municipal account in South Africa and Africa. It is our approach that works,” he concluded.
Details: City of Joburg 011 407 6716.
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