This document takes a look at topics that trended and generated conversations on Twitter during the month of October. From politics to sports to entertainment - I checked out what South African tweeps have been saying and contributing on the platform.

1. Twitter Trending Topics
October 2018
By
Ashley Mokwena

2. Table of Contents
Introduction i
Topics
1. VBS Heist 1-5
2. SAFW21 6-10
3. Invest SA 11-15
4. Soweto Derby 16-19
5. Lebo Mathosa 20-24
6. HHP 25-29
7. Parktown Boys 30-33
Content Page No.

3. Introduction
This document takes a look at some of the top topics that trended and generated
conversations on Twitter during the month of October.
From politics to sports to entertainment - I look at what South African tweeps have
been saying and contributing on the platform.
In this document you will find the following topics:
• VBS Heist
• SAFW21
• Invest SA
• Soweto Derby
• Lebo Mathosa
• HHP
• Parktown Boys
i

4. Topics

5. Topic: #VBSHeist
Industry: Finance
Estimated Accounts reached Estimated people reached
1
A scandal involving VBS Mutual Bank broke out when advocate Terry Motau, who was assisted by top law
firm Werkmans Attorneys, conducted an investigation into the financial affairs of the bank. The objective
of the investigation was to establish whether or not any of the business of VBS was conducted with
intent to defraud the depositors and creditors of the Bank. When the findings went public, South African
Twitter streets erupted and shared their views and thoughts behind the scandal. What caught the
attention of many on Twitter was when the report mentioned the names of government officials, ANC
leaders and as well as EFF leaders as those who have financial benefited from defrauding the bank and
it’s investors.

6. What Tweeps Have Been Saying
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7. What Tweeps Have Been Saying
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8. What Tweeps Have Been Saying
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9. What Tweeps Have Been Saying
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10. Topic: #SAFW21
Industry: Fashion and Arts
Estimated Accounts reached Estimated people reached
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It’s the first time since I started doing the monthly Twitter trends report covering a topic in arts and
fashion. The 21st edition of the South African Fashion Week Autumn gifted fashionistas, bloggers and
Instagrammers an opportunity to view works from Africa’s top designers. As with any major event
#SAFW21 trended on our Twitter streets. Twitter was ablaze when the pictures of celebrity and
influencer Maps Maponyane parading the catwalk in a Gert-Johan Coetzee outfit that was designed
to look like a street map. Throughout the fashion event we saw tweeps sharing their views and
thoughts on garments that were being showcased.

11. What Tweeps Have Been Saying
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12. What Tweeps Have Been Saying
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13. What Tweeps Have Been Saying
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14. What Tweeps Have Been Saying
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15. Topic: #InvestSA
Industry: Business
Estimated Accounts reached Estimated people reached
11
South Africa is one of the world’s most vibrant, multi-cultural and promising emerging economies.
The country is a viewed by many as a key investment location and a gateway into the African
continent. In October, local and international investors converged in Africa’s richest square mile to
discuss all things South African business, market and economy. As usual, tweeps took to Twitter to
share their views and thoughts on the platform. Among the contributors on the #InvestSA was South
Africa’s mineral resources minister, Gwede Mantashe, who quoted Alibaba founder and Executive
Chairman, Jack Ma.

16. What Tweeps Have Been Saying
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17. What Tweeps Have Been Saying
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18. What Tweeps Have Been Saying
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19. What Tweeps Have Been Saying
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20. Topic: #SowetoDerby
Industry: Sports
Estimated Accounts reached Estimated people reached
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One of the biggest rivalries in world football, the Soweto Derby, took place in October. The match played
by the two giants of South African football, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, attracts and draws
massive crowds. From the build-up right to the end of the match, the tweets stream in and tweeps
converse about the match. The pitch action and drama largely drives the conversation on Twitter.
Tweeps also took to Twitter to share pictures and moments inside and outside of the stadium. Some
Orlando Pirates fans shared videos and pictures poking fun at the Kaizer Chiefs faithful after their team
lost 2 – 1 on the day.

21. What Tweeps Have Been Saying
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22. What Tweeps Have Been Saying
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23. What Tweeps Have Been Saying
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24. Topic: #LeboMathosa
Industry:Entertainment
Estimated Accounts reached Estimated people reached
20
23 October 2018 marked 12 years since the death of South African Afro-pop and Kwaito music
sensation Lebo Mathosa. Politicians, celebrities and general tweeps weighed in on the trend and
conversation by commemorating the former Boom Shaka member by sharing photos and short clips
of her music videos.

25. What Tweeps Have Been Saying
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26. What Tweeps Have Been Saying
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27. What Tweeps Have Been Saying
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29. Topic: #HHP
Industry: Entertainment
Estimated Accounts reached Estimated people reached
25
During the month of October the South African music fraternity lost one of its own - hip hop
sensation, Jabulani Tsambo better known by his stage name, HHP. The talented Motswako rapper’s
untimely death shocked South Africans and tweeps took to Twitter to share their condolences and to
also speculate on the cause of HHP’s death. It was reported that the rapper struggled with
depression and drug abuse. Twitter streets were not pleased during the memorial service when the
infamous Rasta, an artist who painted the portrait of the late rapper, painted a piece that looked
nothing like HHP.

30. What Tweeps Have Been Saying
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31. What Tweeps Have Been Saying
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32. What Tweeps Have Been Saying
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33. What Tweeps Have Been Saying
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34. Topic: #ParkTownBoys
Industry: Education and Academics
Estimated Accounts reached Estimated people reached
30
Collan Rex, a former Parktown Boys’ High School assistant waterpolo coach, was found guilty on 144
counts of sexual assault and 12 of common assault. During his trial Rex pleaded guilt to sexually
assaulting 12 school boys. Some parents of the victims took to Twitter to express their disgust and
disappointment at how the school and the Gauteng Department of Education handled the matter.
Later general tweeps also shared their views on Twitter about the case. Some also asked the education
department’s head in Gauteng, Panyaza Lesufi to play a part in making sure that such cases take
priority and be handled with urgency.

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38. Methodology

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