South Africa’s 24-hour trends report – 9 July, 2020

Money Matters 

Conversations on socioeconomic inequality and money gained traction on social media yesterday. 

@BassieM_ tweeted: “South Africans work some of the longest hours in the world for some of the smallest wages and are one of the most taxed populations in the world. ?”. This tweet received 2,700 retweets and 6,700 likes by this morning. 

@GoddessLethabo tweeted: “It's concerning that some of you believe poverty persists because poor people don't work hard enough to uplift themselves. I mean, I know privilege is blinding but like when has capitalism ever cared about hard work?” This was liked over 1,700 times and retweeted 981 times. 

Other users suggested that wealth was not necessarily accumulated through hard work, but through illicit practices. Yesterday @MasekoValencia tweeted: “The corrupt are filthy rich. Going around preaching about hard work and determination. Use discernment!” This tweet generated 277 retweets and over 1,100 likes.

Government Looting

As reports on the spread of Covid-19 and its deadly toll continue, many social media conversations turned to action taken by the government. 

Health Minister @ZweliMkhize’s tweet showed that almost 14,000 new cases were confirmed resulting in over 5 ,000 retweets. A glimmer of hope came in the form of a report by @News24 that a vaccine may be ready in Africa by early 2021, if current trials prove successful.

A satirical tweet by @MuloiwaThendo pointed out: “Limpopo people die and come back to life,” highlighting errors in the number of deaths reported in Limpopo. 

Acute criticism of the government and Health Minister Mkhize was shared by @BlessingsRamoba: “R10-million spent by the govt on scooter ambulances in EC. Now Min Zweli Mkhize says that they are not fit to be used as ambulances, but the money is gone. Got to love the ANC, the only country where they find the most wonderful concepts to define their corrupt and poor governance”. The tweet was liked and retweeted over 1,000 times.

The number of graves being prepared in Gauteng also came under fire. @NkhwashuCrown tweeted: “#PutSouthAfricansFirstNow, Actually my question to @ANC govt, Is this 1,5 million graves plan to cater the whole African Continent or only for South Africans? I just need clarity coz for me it doesn’t make sense.”

@Farouk16176969 replied:“ This is just another way of getting a tender corruption and looting #ANCMustFall”. @eliotchauke1 shared : “so ANC chowed the money EFF donated to Solidarity fund????.”

@LandNoli shared a list of contractors who were recipients of the overpayments linked to Kusile, Eskom’s latest power plant project. @mkhizec called for black people to “order a complete SUSPENSION of persecution of ALL BLACKS until WHITES involved in LOOTING billions are included by NPA”. While @LandNoli’s tweet was retweeted and liked approximately 1,300 times, @mkhizec’s tweet received far less traction, with only 65 mentions. 

Race and cricket

South African cricketer Lungi Ngidi said he would support the Black Lives Matter movement once live cricket resumes. His stance on the matter received some negative comments from his team players, according to EWN. @Tevin8r challenged these negative responses in this tweet: “So according to those privileged racists, Lungi Ngidi supporting Black Lives Matter means farm attacks don't matter to him? So with that logic, when the Proteas hold a pink day then other types of cancers besides breast cancer don't matter to them or deserve awareness and funding.” The tweet received 250 likes and 62 retweets. 

South Africa's Lungi Ngidi celebrates after bowling out Sri Lanka's Avishka Fernando during the second one day international (ODI) cricket match at The Supersport Stadium in Pretoria on March 6, 2019. (Photo: CHRISTIAAN KOTZE/AFP/Getty Images)