The Highs and Lows of 2024: What Did South Africans Search the Most on Google This Year?
As the curtains of the year gradually come down with every passing day of this festive month, the world’s go-to search engine Google has released global and regional data on what has had people questioning the search bar this past year. From the historic general elections which ushered in a new governmental regime in post-Apartheid South Africa to the country’s triumphs in sports, Mzansi had more than enough to talk about.
Today, we’ll be taking a look at some of the most searched topics.
1. “The South African Elections” (leading in the category of “Events”)
Going into the seventh South African general elections on 29 May 2024, the country’s then-ruling party the African National Congress (ANC) had won every single general election since taking over in 1994, securing over 200 seats in the National Assembly without fail.
Although the ANC’s supporter base had already begun to decline over the years due to the people’s dissatisfaction with the party’s poor rulership, the endless corruption, and the scourge of unemployment, the results of the elections painted a stronger picture of where people’s hearts were concerning the matter.
ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa | SUPPLIED
In 2019, the ANC had 230 seats in the National Assembly, but this year the numbers nosedived. With the formation of the Jacob Zuma-led uMkhonto Wesizwe Party (MK Party) and the DA breathing down their necks, Cyril Ramaphosa-helmed ANC lost 71 seats as well as the majority needed for them to be the country’s ruling party. And with that was the formation of the country’s very first Government of National Unity (GNU).
Formed in June 2024, the GNU consists of the ANC, the DA, the IFP, as well as the Patriotic Alliance. This year’s elections were a testament to the people’s power and the collective voice of the vote. With the results forcing the ANC to share a bed with their sworn rivals the DA while the MK Party and the EFF were alienated from ruling within the GNU, the South African Elections were certainly worth the fuss.
2. AFCON: Bafana Bafana and Cape Verde Ladies (talking points under “Sports”)
The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations was a spectacle of particular interest. After failing to qualify for the 2021 edition held in Cameroon, Bafana Bafana made it for this year’s installment, which saw the boys jet off to the Ivory Coast.
With surprising displays of grit, determination, and heroics from the team’s captain Ronwen Williams, Hugo Broos’s charges made it all the way to the semi-finals, where they lost to the Super Eagles. Although they came agonisingly close to winning the championship, they did secure a victory against the DR Congo in the third-place playoffs, securing Bafana’s second bronze medal result in the competition overall – their best result in over two decades.
One of the greatest talking points of Bafana’s journey in the AFCON were the events of their quarterfinal encounter against Cape Verde. The match was significant because that was the climax of the Bafana story, a match where Ronwen saved four penalties during a shootout, sending the 1996 AFCON conquerors through to the semis. What was also a hullabaloo were Cape Verden ladies cheering their team on from the stands – beauties who caused a stir among South African men, who jokingly started a trend of relocating to Cape Verde all over social media.
Percy Tau and Themba Zwane Celebrating | SUPPLIED
3. Dricus, Akani, and Tatjana (top searches under “Athletes”)
2024 was a year of athletic and sporting Ws for Mzansi, and it didn’t end with Bafana exceeding expectations in the AFCON.
South Africa’s Olympic contingent numbered 149 in Paris for the Summer Games. Swimmer Tatjana Smith won the country’s only gold medal for the 100m breaststroke and also took silver in the 200m breaststroke – and with her four-medal tally as a two-time Olympic champion, she became the country’s most decorated Olympian.
Track stars Akani Simbine, Bradley Nkoane, Bayanda Walaza, and Shaun Maswanganyi came out second for the Men’s 4 x 100m relay, whilst Jo-Ane van Dyk matched the result for the Women’s javelin throw.
The Blitzbokke and Alan Hatherly won bronze medals for the rugby sevens Men’s tournament and the Men’s cross-country, respectively. And with that, South Africa ended their campaign with a total of six medals.
The outcome of UFC 305 also saw South Africans celebrate MMA fighter Dricus du Plessis, when he took on Israel Adesanya in Perth, Australia and won the UFC Middleweight Championship.
Tatjana Smith After Winning Gold | SUPPLIED
4. The Fall of Beloved Stars (trending under “Loss”)
As much as 2024 was a year of glorious highs and wins, heartbreaking moments crept in, taking up the shape of unfortunate losses.
This year, the entertainment space mourned the likes of shining star Mpho Sebeng, “Dumelang” hitmaker Malome Vector, the founder of the Crown Gospel Music Awards Zanele Mbokazi, as well as veteran actress Connie Chiume. The political sphere lost juggernauts when former Ministers of Finance Tito Mboweni and Pravin Gordan passed on in a space of two months.
These were some of the names that dominated the search bar this year.
Mpho Sebeng | SUPPLIED
Connie Chiume | SUPPLIED