We know how much you enjoy living your life beyond the confines of your smartphone screen. But come Monday, you still want to hear about the social media highlights from the weekend, right? Well look no further than South Africa’s Weekend Social Trends Report, compiled for you by us, and fuelled by the country’s Twitter, Facebook and Instagram community.
Edition #2, 8-9 July 2017.
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Dlamini Zuma punts presidential prospects?
It’s not often we see a set of tweets propel an account into Twitter trending status, but Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma did just that Saturday.
Speaking at a Catholic Women’s Union event in KwaZulu-Natal, Dlamini Zuma’s Twitter handle briefly trended around midday Saturday, following over a dozen tweets addressing women’s roles and place in society.
However one tweet in particular stood out to most.
“If we elect a female President we can look to her to empower women and fast track women’s emancipation,” she writes.
If we elect a female President we can look to her to empower women and fast track women’s emancipation #catholicwomensunion
— Dr Dlamini Zuma (@DlaminiZuma) July 8, 2017
The tweet received over 300 replies, and some 70 retweets — more than any of her other posts on the day. A majority of the more popular questioned her motives… and presidential prospects.
You were the AU Chairperson, first woman for that matter and you didn’t do much, tell me how will you run a country? Smh!
— Sarah-Leigh Elago (@GeniusLeigh) July 8, 2017
So you can be a PA for the Guptas??? SA don’t want you and your Guptas we rather have Makhosi Khoza instead
— SOWETAN (@nkutha1) July 8, 2017
Incidentally, we also saw this particular meme appear once again.
— Sundowns_Fanatic
(@Solomon_Madube) July 8, 2017
Twitter users also put forward their candidates for the first female president of South Africa…
Absolutely and the delegates are Makhosi Khoza and Thuli Madonsela !!!
— Roger (@RogerScouser) July 8, 2017
#MenIn4Words: ‘Some need more brains’
Nope, this isn’t quite #MenAreTrash all over again.
The hashtag first appeared in August 2016, but reappeared across the world on Saturday thanks to this post by Roe’s Rage. It also became a trending topic in South Africa for a brief period.
Users posted their feelings towards men using just four words… or in some cases, a few more.
I would like to tweet #Menin4Words, but a man would correct me.
— Nyasha Junior (@NyashaJunior) July 8, 2017
Others aimed to educate.
#MenIn4Words They pee standing up.
— Kerry Tedder (@KeshaTedder) July 8, 2017
A few more used GIFs to enhance their posts.
#MenIn4Words
We are clueless, mostly. pic.twitter.com/oMT6komEQ6— Inquisition (@Inquisition) July 8, 2017
Can’t handle being sick. #MenIn4Words @roeu812 pic.twitter.com/HqeTs3f7YY
— Lissa
(@_lola_bee) July 8, 2017
#MenIn4Words Should come with directions. pic.twitter.com/XidpBp3N3Q
— Dawn (@obxgirl75) July 8, 2017
We love our tools #MenIn4Words pic.twitter.com/ZDQtuWwczj
— service.com (@servicedot) July 8, 2017
#MenIn4Words They are nature lovers pic.twitter.com/bCevsOCAZ7
— Lisa Leyrer
(@Lisaley) July 8, 2017
#MenIn4Words — Some need more brains. pic.twitter.com/ZVgB6EXu6p
— Kevin (@kevinwxgg) July 8, 2017
The hashtag’s still being used at the time of writing.
Southern Kings, Wayne Rooney and Bradley Lowery
Sporting events tend to trend regularly in South Africa over the weekend, and this week was no exception.
Six-year-old Sunderland fan Bradley Lowery died this weekend following a battle with cancer. This tweet from Sunderland and the below tweet from footballer Jermaine Defoe were amongst the most shared.
The thoughts of all at #SAFC are with the Lowery family following this afternoon’s sad news.#OneBradleyLowery
https://t.co/EtrhMlpbqt pic.twitter.com/MeYOey4d3v — Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) July 7, 2017
Sleep tight little one…
pic.twitter.com/iGqLXdvlVi — Jermain Defoe (@IAmJermainDefoe) July 8, 2017
South African rugby also headlined with a win for the Southern Kings and Stormers in their respective matches.
Match report: #DHLStormers ran in eight tries at #DHLNewlands to beat Sunwolves 52-15 – https://t.co/Zwl0x4H6ua #STOvSUN #iamastormer pic.twitter.com/5S5uDJDFZw
— DHL STORMERS (@THESTORMERS) July 8, 2017
| FULL TIME |
Another one in the bag. On to the next one – the last one.We take our sixth win home.
Kings beat Bulls 30-31 #BULvKIN pic.twitter.com/LlXlb6tcex
— Southern Kings (@SouthernKingsSA) July 8, 2017
Wayne Rooney’s return to Everton after 13 years with Manchester United also fuelled conversation this weekend.
Excited to be back at @Everton. Can’t wait to meet up with @RonaldKoeman and the lads! #EFC
pic.twitter.com/0CjD0i1aXg — Wayne Rooney (@WayneRooney) July 9, 2017
#FarewellToALegend@WayneRooney is leaving #MUFC to return to Everton: https://t.co/QQrxKB2wo4
Thank you, Wayne, from all of us. pic.twitter.com/34NErAvscX
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 9, 2017
This tweet from Man United player Ander Herrera also briefly trended in South Africa Sunday afternoon.
One day I will be able to tell my grandkids I played with you. All the best and thank you @WayneRooney #FarewellToALegend pic.twitter.com/QZS6OhDTcP
— Ander Herrera (@AnderHerrera) July 9, 2017
‘My brother has just been hijacked’
Late Sunday, Twitter rallied together to find a hijacked man. Sister of the victim and Twitter user Khan Sifile tweeted that her brother had been hijacked around 7.30pm Sunday.
Shit my brother has just been hijacked around turfontein / roseten ville Red A3.. the thugs took him with. Shit shit!
— Khan Sifile (@KhanSifile) July 9, 2017
While the initial tweet was sluggish to spread, this particular tweet garnered over 1000 retweets.
The registration number is DL68YDGP pls if you spot it call me 0832069712 …. Oh Gosh my only brother. we have notified police https://t.co/2dzCQHNZK9
— Khan Sifile (@KhanSifile) July 9, 2017
Along with the retweets, users also offered advice and their well wishes.
Inform his bank to monitor locations of transactions , they are going to force him to withdraw money.
— Makhabane Lerotholi (@thabolesholu) July 9, 2017
Pls keep us posted! Im praying for his safe return!
— Buli (@BuliTM) July 9, 2017
I pray that you find him without a scratch.
— #SAunderANC=Aprtheid (@ChairMidrand) July 9, 2017
“We are now hoping Tracker, Police, and Grace can deliver,” she wrote on Twitter in the latest update.
No no no …. We are now hoping Tracker, Police, and Grace can deliver… thank you for the ask right now TL ..
— Khan Sifile (@KhanSifile) July 9, 2017
Update: around 1am Monday morning, Sifile confirmed that her brother was safe.
they dropped my baby at some field in Germiston, and he walked to a @Caltexsa Dinwildi garage, they gave him phone to call us,.Thank u
— Khan Sifile (@KhanSifile) July 9, 2017
Feature image: Foreign and Commonwealth Office via Flickr (CC 2.0 BY, resized)
