While politics have mostly dominated top Google Search trends in South Africa in previous years, the turbulent year that has been 2016 has produced quite a mix of different topics in the top 10.
Google today released results of the top 10 overall and other category trend searches, with the first four topics being international trends.
“Where last year’s top searches – loadshedding and xenophobia – were distinctly local issues, this year’s top searches show South African eyes are turned to the world at large, not just at home,” Google said.
The top 10 overall searches were:
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Pokemon Go
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Euro 2016
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Olympic Games Rio 2016
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Donald Trump
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Election Results
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Mandoza
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IEC
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Mall of Africa
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Caster Semenya
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US Elections 2016
President Jacob Zuma again topped the list of most searched for politicians and prominent figures. Khwezi, at number 10, is the woman who accused the president of rape a decade ago. Khwezi was a name given to her to protect her identity at the time. She passed away a few months ago.
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Jacob Zuma
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Public Protector
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Gupta family
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Thoko Didiza
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Mcebo Dlamini
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Pravin Gordhan
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Sipho Pityana
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Brian Molefe
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Thuli Madonsela
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Khwezi
The sudden deaths of two young and much-loved South African celebrities, Mandoza and Gugu Zulu, placed the two men at the top of the celebrity searches:
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Mandoza
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Gugu Zulu
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Emtee
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Babes Wodumo
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Gareth Cliff
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Nasty C
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Rapulana Seiphemo
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Nyembezi Kunene
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Ayanda Mabulu
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Duke Soul
SABC TV shows dominated the list of top local show searches:
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Cash Gang
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Uzalo
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Muvhango
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Isibaya
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Idols SA
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Beintehaa
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Bigg Boss 9
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Skeem Saam
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The Voice South Africa
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Antara Nur Dan Dia
The “how to” and “what is” searches were at least not as strange as previous, South Africans were more interested in topics of global and personal interest this time around.
Top trending ‘what is’ searches:
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What is Pokemon Go?
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What is Java?
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What is globalisation?
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What is a blesser?
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What is Brexit?
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What is the weather today?
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What is meant by restorative justice?
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What is research?
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What is a dependent variable?
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What is biome?
Top trending ‘how tos’:
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How to download pokemon go
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How to build a strong business relationship
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How to lose belly fat
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How to heat up cosmetic oil for production
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How to remove bookmarks
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How to make slime
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How to tie a doek
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How to deal with poor confidence
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How to cope with being alone
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How to prepare battered jackfruit