This document covers some of the top trends that occurred on Twitter in the South African landscape.

1. Twitter Trending Topics
December 2018
By
Ashley Mokwena

2. Table of Contents
Introduction i
Topics
1. African Content Movement 1 - 4
2. Arrive Alive 5 - 8
3. Christine Lagarde 9 - 11
4. Public Protector 12 - 15
5. Johnny Clegg 16 - 19
6. SA vs Pak 20 - 23
7. Grace Mugabe 24 - 27
8. Methodology 28
Content Page No.

3. Introduction
This document takes a look at seven topics that trended and generated
conversations on Twitter during the month of December 2018.
From politics to sports to entertainment - I checked out what South African tweeps
have been saying and contributing on the platform.
In this document you will find the following topics:
 #AfricanContentMovement
 #ArriveAlive
 #ChristineLagarde
 #PublicProtector
 #JohnnyClegg
 #SAvsPak
 #GraceMugabe
i

4. Topics

5. Topic: #AfricanContentMovement
Category: Politics
Estimated Accounts reached Estimated people reached
1
The former South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) chief operations officer Hlaudi Motsoeseng
launched a new political movement – the African Content Movement. The trend was largely followed
by the media and those who are familiar with the infamous character. Some aspects of the party’s
policies are based on Steve Biko’s Black Consciousness Movement. Tweeps shared their thoughts and
feelings to the trend with most of the sentiments being negative. However negative sentiments and
mentions on social media will not “break” the party’s leadership who’s primary objective is to win the
2019 General Elections.

6. What Tweeps Have Been Saying
2

7. What Tweeps Have Been Saying
3

8. What Tweeps Have Been Saying
4

9. Topic: #ArriveAlive
Category: Health
Estimated Accounts reached Estimated people reached
5
During the festive season the national department of Transport launched its #ArriveAlive campaign to
South African motorists and holiday makers. As usual tweeps took to Twitter to engage about the
campaign and to also wish each other well and to travel safe to their various holiday destination. There
were a number of negative sentiments towards the government’s campaign, with some tweeps
complaining about the many potholes on South African roads.

10. What Tweeps Have Been Saying
6

11. What Tweeps Have Been Saying
7

12. What Tweeps Have Been Saying
8

13. Topic: #ChristineLagarde
Category: Finance/Economy
Estimated Accounts reached Estimated people reached
9
The managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Christine Lagarde, paid South
Africa a visit to discuss matters surrounding the current state of the South African economy. During
her visit she met President Cyril Ramaphosa and various leaders within the finance and economic
cluster. South African tweeps took to Twitter to share their views on Lagarde’s visit, with some
tweeps citing that the IMF would be giving South Africa a financial boost – which wasn’t the case.

14. What Tweeps Have Been Saying
10

15. What Tweeps Have Been Saying
11

16. Topic: #PublicProtector
Category: Justice/Politics
Estimated Accounts reached Estimated people reached
12
Before the Christmas break, the Public Protector, Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane, released a series of
reports with findings against various individuals including ANC Head of Elections Fikile Mbalula, Former
Home Affairs minister Malusi Gigaba, National Treasury Director-General Dondo Mogajane and Western
Cape Premier Helen. They were found to have violated the constitution and the executives members
code of conduction respectively. Tweeps shared their divided opinions and views on what the Public
protector must do next regarding the findings and holding the mentioned individuals accountable.

17. What Tweeps Have Been Saying
13

18. What Tweeps Have Been Saying
14

19. What Tweeps Have Been Saying
15

20. Topic: #JohnnyClegg
Category: Entertainment
Estimated Accounts reached Estimated people reached
16
Fifty South African artists came together to record a song titled ‘The Crossing’ to pay tribute to
legendary Mbaqanga musician Johnny Clegg - who is fighting pancreatic cancer. Tweeps shared their
views on Twitter about the song and also wished the musician well as he fights the illness. However,
there were users that thought in seeing the trend on Twitter that another South African music legend
had fallen following the deaths of hip hop artists HHP and Pro-Kid.

21. What Tweeps Have Been Saying
17

22. What Tweeps Have Been Saying
18

23. What Tweeps Have Been Saying
19

24. Topic: #SAvsPak
Category: Sports
Estimated Accounts reached Estimated people reached
20
The Boxing Day test match against South Africa and Pakistan took place at the Centurion Cricket Stadium
in Tshwane - in a match that saw the hosts bag a victory over the visitors in the third day of the five day
match. As usual cricket loving tweeps contributed to the trend by analysing the teams, individual
performances by players from both sides and general on the field activities. In some cases we also saw
Pakistani tweeps watch the matching adding their thoughts and views about their teams performance
during the match.

25. What Tweeps Have Been Saying
21

26. What Tweeps Have Been Saying
22

27. What Tweeps Have Been Saying
23

28. Topic: #GraceMugabe
Category: Politics
Estimated Accounts reached Estimated people reached
24
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) issued a warrant of arrest for Zimbabwe’s former first lady, Grace
Mugabe ,over an alleged assault of a young South African woman during her visit to the country. Tweeps
went on Twitter to express their feelings about the occurrence. The Zimbabwean government later issued
out a statement that they will not assist in extraditing Grace Mugabe. The statement angered many South
African Tweeps.

29. What Tweeps Have Been Saying
25

30. What Tweeps Have Been Saying
26

31. What Tweeps Have Been Saying
27

32. Methodology

33. Research Methodology
•Listening and monitoring period:
•01 December 2018 – 31 December 2018
•Tracking and monitoring sources:
•Twitter
•Tweetreach
•Trends Map South Africa
•Trends24
28