President Cyril Ramaphosa dragged by SA Twitter as cost of living rises

The honeymoon period is officially over, South Africa.

Earlier this year, the country rejoiced when President Cyril Ramaphosa was sworn in, replacing Jacob Zuma.

For a few weeks afterward, we enjoyed the memes, his run along Sea Point promenade, and even the jokes shared with EFF leader Julius Malema.

Now, 141 days into the Ramaphosa Presidency and South Africans are struggling to stave off the rising cost of living. Food, fuel and even the recently cold snap are being blamed on the president.

The hashtag #SinceWeSentRamaphosa began trending across the country Friday afternoon, and South Africans were all too ready to embrace it.

Some took it quite seriously.

#SinceWeSentRamaphosa
I jumped from using own car to taxi, from taxi to bicycle, now Im considering walking but still I cant afford shoes. pic.twitter.com/aW3Bc0srvx

— BRUCE MasterLEE (@Malesela_Rams) July 6, 2018

#SinceWeSentRamaphosa having an educational qualification means no employment

— Benz crazy (@57044d016317497) July 6, 2018

#SinceWeSentRamaphosa there’s no more hope, petrol price ,tax & unemployment it’s just crazy #sendme

— MTHULISI.POTOLWANA® (@Theonly_Tulz) July 6, 2018

#SinceWeSentRamaphosa the cost of living is so much expensive pic.twitter.com/kSNMG4JaR0

— RABBIT 🐰 (@TheInscisors) July 6, 2018

#SinceWeSentRamaphosa. Even Zuma junk status was better. pic.twitter.com/QDipbMVk0b

— maphara. (@Sphakeme35) July 6, 2018

Others used jest as a coping mechanism.

#SinceWeSentRamaphosa even the weather is so cold, i mean last year around this time it was never like this pic.twitter.com/E7L44EgLeB

— 🐐 (@MozzeyFlaco) July 6, 2018

#SinceWeSentRamaphosa
AkA broke up with queen b pic.twitter.com/xCaaqqmviD

— MickyMouse💈 (@KiidMicky) July 6, 2018

#SinceWeSentRamaphosa proof of residence is required in everything even wen u ar buying 2kg braaipack pic.twitter.com/sI9yjs5ttg

— k’something (@siphumakhety) July 6, 2018

#SinceWeSentRamaphosa Burnt pap at the bottom of the pot never tasted this good💯 pic.twitter.com/0yNicaHf44

— 👑🔥I am🔥👑 (@Gavuza88) July 6, 2018

And some tweets were just, well, you decide.

#SinceWeSentRamaphosa People can’t pass their driver’s license tests without paying a bribe😏 pic.twitter.com/gRMnhT8ppG

— Man’s Not MJ (@MrMightyman) July 6, 2018

Last year this time was October🤷🏾‍♂️🤷🏾‍♂️ #SinceWeSentRamaphosa pic.twitter.com/0btrGvSAxp

— Nhlanhla (@r_nhlanhla) July 6, 2018

#SincewesentRamaphosa Cash In Transit are part of our culture. 😏😯

— Lucky Slakaviko IdyllicProjects (@Lucky_slakaviko) July 6, 2018

#SinceWeSentRamaphosa He turned South Africa to be Woolworths. pic.twitter.com/wEg6Vd7iKH

— Hashtag Fashion (@hashtagFashio) July 6, 2018

#SinceWeSentRamaphosa I’m pretty sure we even paying to breathe, we just don’t know it. pic.twitter.com/Sng2ZUIWcd

— J A V A R I (@HangwiJt) July 6, 2018

#SinceWeSentRamaphosa we cant even take a taxi to town for window shopping. pic.twitter.com/UuusXz4wl2

— GOD SENT DJ 📚 (@IAmZnicho) July 6, 2018

#SinceWeSentRamaphosa
Cost of livin is too high bra Cyril…, even the homeless are fed up nje🤔..
….they jst tired of askin for R2… pic.twitter.com/GTXRVvjzXU

— dat_dOGGy_dude🐶 (@MarcusUnGarvey) July 6, 2018

The rising discontent on Twitter is notable, considering Ramaphosa’s likeability on the social network.

In mid-February 2018, Ramaphosa boasted a Twitter account with some 106 000 followers, up from 19 600 two months prior. Now, more than 252 000 people follow his daily activities.

Feature image: Former South African President Jacob Zuma (left), and 5th South African President Cyril Ramaphosa by GovernmentZA via Flickr (CC 2.0 BY-ND)