Most Searched Issues in South Africa 2017

There were a lot of questions by South Africans in 2017, and the question that was asked severally was “What is junk status? The global search engine Google answered the question on what was trending in 2017 on 13th December.  They reveal a unique perspective‚ not only on some of the big moments of the year‚ based on searches conducted globally and locally‚ but what people were watching on television and even planning to cook for dinner.

The popular searches in South Africa were xenophobia, junk, cyclone Dineo, bitcoin, and belly fat. Information about different issues was also searched people like Dumi Masilela, the perfect recipe for oxtail and sweet potatoes, and television movie Game of Thrones. Trending searches replicated a growing interest in local celebrities and events and how South Africans are overwhelmingly turning to the internet to get local businesses close to them.

Ten frequently searched questions in South Africa.

1. How to lose belly fat?
2. What is Dineo?
3. How old is Simphiwe Ngema?
4. How to manage xenophobia?
5. What is happening in Zimbabwe?
6. Who won the money fight?
7. How to make slime?
8. What is junk status?
9. What is bitcoin?
10. What role can the private sector play in poverty alleviation?

Most global searches

1. iPhone 8
2. Matt Lauer
3. 13 Reasons Why
4. Meghan Markle
5. India National Cricket Team
6. Tom Petty
7. iPhone X
8. Hurricane Irma
9. Fidget Spinner
10. Chester Bennington

Ten trending searches

1. Joost van der Westhuizen
2. Mayweather vs. McGregor fight
3. Zimbabwe
4. Fast & Furious 8
5. Hurricane Irma
6. Cyclone Dineo
7. Joe Mafela
8. Karabo Mokoena
9. Black Friday
10. Dumi Masilela

10 Searched personalities

1. Joe Mafela
2. Zodwa Wabantu
3. Dumi Masilela
4. Mandla Hlatshwayo
5. Chester Bennington
6. Lundi Tyamara
7. Simphiwe Ngema
8. Grace Mugabe
9. Hugh Hefner
10. Joost van der Westhuizen

Most ‘near me’ searches

1. Hardware store near me
2. Dentist near me
3. KFC near me
4. Jobs hiring near me
5. Steers near me
6. Sushi near me
7. Pharmacy near me
8. Doctors near me
9. Printing shops near me
10. Gynaecologist near me

Ten Most searched TV shows in South Africa

1. Game of Thrones
2. Isibaya
3. Big Brother Naija
4. Uzalo
5. Riverdale
6. Sex in the City
7. American Gods
8. Idols SA
9. Big Little Lies
10. 13 reasons why

Frequently searched recipes in South Africa

1. Sweet potato recipes
2. Creamed spinach recipes
3. Beef stew recipes
4. Bread recipes
5. Halaal recipes
6. Prawn recipes
7. Spaghetti recipes
8. Cauliflower recipes
9. Vegan recipes
10. Oxtail recipes