{"id":803717,"date":"2024-12-14T09:30:00","date_gmt":"2024-12-14T07:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=803717"},"modified":"2024-12-13T08:47:05","modified_gmt":"2024-12-13T06:47:05","slug":"the-top-google-searches-in-south-africa-in-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/internet\/803717\/the-top-google-searches-in-south-africa-in-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"The top Google searches in South Africa in 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Google has unveiled the findings of its 2024 Year in Search for South Africa, revealing unexpected trends and sometime bizarre topics that formed the zeitgeist during the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Year in Search provides an annual analysis that reveals the top trending lists and spotlights what the world searches to see, learn, and do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In South Africa, 2024’s results showed a heightened interest in entertainment, current affairs, events, sports, celebrities, and notable personalities who passed away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interestingly, the year saw the unexpected rise of a seemingly simple word \u2013 demure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Once a term often associated with outdated notions of femininity, ‘demure’ has been reclaimed and reimagined for a new generation,” Google said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“What began as a playful TikTok trend ignited a broader conversation about individuality, self-expression, and challenging societal norms. From fashion runways to social media feeds, the word ‘demure’ was everywhere, sparking curiosity and inspiring creativity – the meaning of the word demure is one of this year\u2019s most searched words.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tshwala Bami, a captivating amapiano track featuring S.N.E and EeQue took the music world by storm. Released earlier this year, the song surpassed 100 million streams within a month after its release, solidifying its position as a global hit and this year\u2019s most searched Amapiano dance tune.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among celebrities and media personalities who passed away this year, talented and rising star in the South African film industry, Mpho Sebeng topped the search list for loss. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The passing on of Liam Payne and Pravin Gordhan followed in this category as losses that captured the interest of South Africans this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After conquering the box office worldwide, Inside Out 2 soared to the top of South Africa’s most searched movies while Baby Reindeer claimed the number one spot for the most searched TV shows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While South Africans were eager to make their mark during the 2024 National Elections in May, IEC topped the most searched event list. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Online searches also revealed a keen interest in the results of the US elections, which came up second as the most searched event this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From a sporting perspective, AFCON, Euro 2024, and T20 World Cup, a biennial T20 cricket tournament, dominated sporting events that South Africans were interested in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The AFCON which also topped the list of searches was held in Ivory Coast and saw Bafana Bafana’s impressive run, igniting national pride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These were the top searches for 2024, according to Google:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Top 10 searches in 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. AFCON<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. IEC<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Alexandra Forbes<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Olympics 2024<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. US Election Results<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Demure Meaning<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. NSFAS Application 2025<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. Matric Results 2024<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  9. Joslin Smith<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  10. NHI<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    \n\n\n\n
    \"\"<\/a>
    Malome Vector, a Lesotho singer-songwriter and rapper, who passed away in July 2024.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Top 10 music searches in 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. Malome Vector<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Shebeshxt<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Chris Brown<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. Tyla<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    5. P Diddy<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    6. Tshwala Bami<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    7. Kabza Chant<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    8. Donald<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    9. Imithandazo<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    10. Ntate Stunna<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
      \n\n\n\n
      \"\"<\/a>
      Actor Mpho Sebeng, who passed away in August 2024<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Top searched losses in 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      1. Mpho Sebeng<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. Liam Payne<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. Pravin Gordhan<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      4. Connie Chiume<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      5. Tito Mboweni<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      6. Zanele Mbokazi<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      7. Markus Jooste<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      8. Aletta Bezuidenhout<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      9. Dudu Myeni<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      10. Solly Moholo<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
        \n\n\n\n
        \"\"<\/a>
        UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus du Plessis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

        Top 10 most searched athletes in 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \n
        1. Dricus du Plessis<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        2. Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        3. Lamine Yamal<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        4. Ronwen Williams<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        5. Akani Simbine<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        6. Nico Williams<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        7. Christian Horner<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        8. Riyad Mahrez<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        9. Rhulani Mokwena<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        10. Tatjana Smith<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
          \n\n\n\n
          \"\"<\/a>
          Disney and Pixar’s Inside Out 2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

          Top 10 most searched movies in 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n
          1. Inside Out 2<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          2. Bad Boys 4<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          3. Fool Me Once<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          4. Movie Box<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          5. Deadpool<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          6. Damsel<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          7. Divorce in Black<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          8. Shogun<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          9. Beekeeper<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          10. Road House<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
            \n\n\n\n
            \"\"<\/a>
            Docu-miniseries Baby Reindeer got critical acclaim – and sparked controversy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

            Top most searched TV shows in 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

              \n
            1. Baby Reindeer<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            2. Griselda Blanco<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            3. Beauty in Black<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            4. Menendez Brothers<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            5. Gugu Mbatha-Raw<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            6. Siphesihle Mokoena<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            7. Ronnie Nyakale<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            8. The Crow<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            9. House of the Dragon<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            10. Big Brother Mzansi 2024<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
              \n\n\n\n
              \"\"<\/a>
              Bafana Bafana qualified for the AFCON cup<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

              Top 10 sporting events searched in 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \n
              1. AFCON<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              2. Euro 2024<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              3. T20 World Cup<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              4. Bafana Bafana<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              5. Olympics<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              6. Betway Premiership<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              7. COP America<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              8. Australian Open 2024<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              9. Cape Verde<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              10. Imane Khelif<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                \n\n\n\n
                \"\"<\/a>
                The three different ballot boxes in the IEC 2024 elections. Photo: Daniel Puchert<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

                Top 10 event searches in 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  \n
                1. IEC<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                2. US Election Results<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                3. George Building Collapse<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                4. Ballon d\u2019or 2024<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                5. Dricus du Plessis fight<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                6. Two Pot System<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                7. ANC Coalition<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                8. Crowdstrike<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                9. Eastern Cape Floods<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                10. Peanut Butter Recalled<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                  \n\n\n\n

                  Read: Warning over deadly and disturbing new accident scam in South Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                  Google unpacks the top searches for South Africa in 2024, revealing the topics that captivated us throughout the year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":803726,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9882],"tags":[26],"class_list":["post-803717","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-internet","tag-headline"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/803717","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=803717"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/803717\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":804276,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/803717\/revisions\/804276"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/803726"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=803717"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=803717"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=803717"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}