If you were anywhere between Athlone and Gugulethu around 6am this morning, you may have caught a glimpse of a striding President. As he had done in Sea Point before last week’s SONA 2018, Cyril Ramaphosa took to the streets of Cape Town to jog with fellow South Africans.
He didn’t wear those Where’s Waldo? socks from last week, but he did manage to push a number of hashtags into Twitter’s zeitgeist.
No ad to show here.
Wear socks. Put on your running shoes. Become an active healthy South African! Yes Mr President #CRGetFit
pic.twitter.com/zMxo8Z25F3 — Ontiretse Marumo (@OntiMarumo) February 20, 2018
Most of the sentiment was positive, which has become a theme for Ramaphosa since he’s become president.
“President Cyril Ramaphosa is leading by example with this walk, he should extend an invite to the rest of cabinet,” tweeted one user.
“They must lead by example to fight obesity and help create a healthy nation.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa is leading by example with this walk, he should extend an invite to the rest of cabinet. They must lead by example to fight obesity and help create a healthy nation. #CRGetFit #WanyaMkhaba
— Lwazi M. Somya (@Lwazi_Somya) February 20, 2018
Others made puns that Gearburn editor Hadlee Simons would appreciate.
Our President #CyrilRamaphosa has hit the ground running #cyrilsprint
— Sukoluhle Nyathi (@SueNyathi) February 20, 2018
It’s one thing to run for president but to run as president. Wow! Inspired!
— Heedo aka (@shaheednordien) February 20, 2018
And yes, even the hashtag #TummyMustFall was a thing for a moment.
Thank you Mr President Cyril Ramaphosa @CyrilRamaphosa for all the things you shared with me. #Sendme #Ramaphosa #CyrilRamaphosa #PresidentRamaphosa #President #CRGetFit #Ramaphosagetfit #Ramaphosagetsfit pic.twitter.com/AvjHQyADmR
— Kgotso Hope Lekau (@kgotso00) February 20, 2018
Others however noticed the formation of an ANC campaign gaining momentum ahead of the 2019 general elections.
“The ANC is set to recapture Cape Town!” excitedly tweeted one user.
@MYANC We see you and your campaign strategies
#CRGetFit . Smart move going to Gugulethu and Athlone. @Our_DA must watch out. They better up their game and strategy if they still want to win the Western Cape — Lerato Mashianoke (@NkAnYi07) February 20, 2018
#CyrilSprint Excellent PR move by the @CyrilRamaphosa team. Simple. Yet supremely effective. pic.twitter.com/WlM2MOiwa0
— Nickolaus Bauer (@NickolausBauer) February 20, 2018
The media is already covering Cyril Ramaphosa’s morning walks. Very soon we gonna have “baking with Cyril” and “Cyril’s ice tea recipe”. I think he’ll be that kind of a president. #CyrilSprint pic.twitter.com/OkdsNYCiOl
— Thakhani Ramufhufhi (@Thakhani_R) February 20, 2018
The #ANC is set to recapture Cape Town!
#cyrilsprint #CyrilRamaphosa https://t.co/aknLbYJ7BS — Sentient_Spirit (@Rhythmic_Spirit) February 20, 2018
Whether he’s is indeed hitting the campaign trail, or simply serious about seeing a fitter South Africa, expect to see the President in his jogging overalls on a roadside near you.
But at 2pm today he’ll be suited up once more as he delivers his reply to yesterday’s SONA 2018 debate in Parliament.
Feature images: GovernmentZA via Flickr (CC 2.0 BY-ND)
