The Top Stories in 2015 on SAPeople

These are the stories that proved the most popular on SAPeople.com during 2015…

It was the year of the Rugby World Cup (RWC2015), xenophobia attacks and marches, Cape Fires and a spate of #MustFall hashtag campaigns from Zuma to Fees to Rain. It was also a year of goosebump moments from Springbok fans who made us proud to a special moment between rugby legends Joost van der Westhuizen and the late Jonah Lomu. Trevor Noah stepped onto the global stage and took South Africa with him into the limelight, and we continued to celebrate all those things that make us uniquely South African…

11. Americans Try South African Snacks

There’s a certain delight South Africans abroad take in sharing their SA treats with foreigners. Their faces. Their reactions! If you’ve never seen it – this is priceless. Check out four Americans trying out South African food for the very first time… Full story: Americans Try South African Snacks  Also South Africans respond & try American Food

10. Durban Hit By Massive Waves

A big swell hit Durban in January, creating massive waves and smashing into piers. Reports of similar conditions were reported around the world, from San Francisco in the USA to Cairns in Australia with some areas experiencing low-level flooding. The non-scientific term is ‘king tide’ which describes an especially high tide event that occurs twice a year when there’s an alignment of the gravitational pull between sun and moon. Full story: Photos and Video of Big Waves during King Tide in Durban

 09. Jonah Lomu Fought Back Tears in Another Moving Joost Video

Just as we recovered from the incredibly moving hymn sung to South African rugby legend Joost van der Westhuizen by the Samoa rugby team, another video surfaced on social media in September to bring out the box of tissues again – an excerpt from New Zealand rugby legend Jonah Lomu’s documentary “Back to South Africa”. Twenty years after the 1995 Rugby World Cup, the doc followed the global rugby star’s return to South Africa, where it began, to meet up with old and new friends. In the video Lomu says to Joost: “You know what, the most satisfying thing is that I can call you a friend.” Tragically, Jonah Lomu passed away suddenly in November at the age of 40.

Full story: Jonah Lomu Fought Back Tears in Another Moving Joost Video

08. Trevor Noah Teases Britain…and Wins More Fans. Brilliant Video

South African comedian Trevor Noah won over thousands more fans when he appeared on a British show in June, proving just why US Comedy Central bosses had selected him to replace Jon Stewart on The Daily Show in September. In a review after the new John Bishop variety show was aired in the UK, the Guardian newspaper hailed Trevor as “the best” part. In the video Trevor jokes about how difficult it is, as an African, to get into the UK; and makes fun of the British empire and colonialism. The Guardian described his performance as “smarter, more political” than the material usually trotted out by comedians, and notes that there’s a nervous laughter in the audience because “they know – we know – that the joke is now on us.” https://youtu.be/v76B8GUYflk Full story: Trevor Noah Teases Britain…and Wins More Fans. Brilliant Video More Trevor Noah stories and videos

07. VIDEO – Best Ever South African Ad! SA is One of a Kind!

Loadshedding, Hippo Crossing warning signs, beautiful homes with high fences, Chop & Dop, Bakuzzis (!) and packed mini-taxis…These are just a handful of things that make South Africa unique. In a brilliant advert that used the amazement of foreigners to showcase the best (and worst) of South Africa in a humorous and affectionate manner, a local insurance company captured the essence of the country to convey their message that a one-of-a-kind country “needs one-of-a-kind insurance”. https://youtu.be/ViorVDgiiOg Full story: VIDEO – Best Ever South African Ad! SA is One of a Kind!

06. South African ‘Braai’ as Explained by a Foreigner

Dutch expat Mark Wijsman, who now lives in Cape Town, explained SA’s braai: “Be careful not to confuse a South African braai with an American barbecue! These two are hardly related. Barbecues are made for laziness, safety, comfort and speed. These days, American barbecues are so sophisticated they are self-cleaning, come with a remote control, solar paneled electric fryer, GPS and a tan-bed. South African braais are simple. A few bricks here and there, a roasting rack. That’s it. Starting it up requires some actual skills, and my few attempts have mostly resulted in setting myself on fire. Nowadays, I’m only allowed to make the side salad…” Full Story: South African ‘Braai’ as Explained by a Foreigner  More articles by Mark Wijsman

05. Twin Brothers from Township Beat the Odds to Become Doctors

Twin brothers from Khayelitsha township in Cape Town surmounted considerable odds over the years, and in the first week of December they were about to do it again by both graduating as doctors from Stellenbosch University. And their message: Believe in yourself. Full Story: Twin Brothers from Township Beat the Odds to Become Doctors

04. My Thoughts on Phobias and What’s Taking Place in South Africa

Following xenophobic attacks in parts of South Africa during April 2015, Stellenbosch University graduate Lovelyn Chidinma Nwadeyi shared her thoughts as a Nigerian, born in Nigeria to two Nigerian parents…and raised in Queenstown, Eastern Cape, by those same Nigerian parents. She pointed out the definition of a phobia and argued that therefore “xenophobia does not by definition imply the killing of foreigners. Yet, we continue to label this current wave of killings and murders in SA as xenophobic – and now the cooler term – “Afrophobic” attacks. Can we please just get real? What is happening in SA is a genocide, a genocide fuelled by a deep-seated hatred for which no single foreigner is responsible. Before, you say this is too extreme, allow me to explain…” Full story: My Thoughts on Phobias and What’s Taking Place in South Africa Full story: My Thoughts on Phobias and What’s Taking Place in South Africa More: Anti-Xenophobia marches, photos and articles

03. Cape Town Photos as Fires Continue on Hottest Day in 100 Years

As 3 March 2015 was declared the hottest day in Cape Town’s recorded history the fire that began in the early hours of Sunday 1 March 2015 continued to ravage the mountain, with firefighters battling over 14 separate fires. Full Story: Cape Town Photos as Fires Continue on Hottest Day in 100 Years! More Cape Town Fires Photos and Stories

02. 10 Ways Tanzania’s (Awesome) New President Shows How to Lead an African Country

After only three weeks since Tanzania had elected John Magufuli, the son of a farmer, to take over from Jakaya Kikwete, whose government was scarred by scandals and excesses, it was already clear why the can-do, cost-cutting, austere, corruption-hating new leader was known as Iron Fist and the Bulldozer. Tongue-in-cheek celebrations took off on Twitter – with the hashtag #WhatWouldMagufuliDo – but Africans across the continent had already started asking more seriously on social media if their leaders were paying attention to Magufuli. SAPeople listed 10 of the awesome things Magufuli had done in less than a month since becoming president. Full list: 10 Ways Tanzania’s New President Shows How to Lead an African Country More: Magufuli articles

01. Goosebump Moment as South African Supporters Cheer Japanese Fans

A tweet from a foreign journalist commending South African fans for their awesome sportsmanship, after the Springboks’ shock 32-34 loss against Japan in their opening match at the Rugby World Cup in the UK in September, went viral. Olly Barratt wrote: “Train pulls into Brighton, SA fans insist Japan supporters get off first, give them a guard of honour and cheer them off. Amazing day.” #GoSouthAfrica Full story: Goosebumps as SA Fans Cheer Japanese Fans More Rugby World Cup 2015 stories

Bubbling Under…

Other stories that were also very popular in 2015:

• Thandi’s Calf – the Rhino that Should Never Have Been Born
• The ‘Hottest’ Firepool Jokes Burning up the Internet
• #ZumaMustFall Petition Gathers Numbers as Expats are Encouraged to Head Home to Vote
• Watch Video of What Happens at a Roadworks Stop in South Africa
• Jenna Lowe Passes Away
• 15 Slang Phrases You’ll Need to Know in South Africa
• Thandi’s Calf – the Rhino that Should Never Have Been Born
• 20 Reasons You Should Never Visit Joburg
• Guide to Travelling with Kids In and Out of South Africa
• South African Woman’s Account of Friday the 13th November in Paris
• South Africans Perform First Successful Penile Transplant in the World
• Australian Pro Surfer Mick Fanning’s Shark Attack in Jeffrey’s Bay
• South Africans Perform First Successful Penile Transplant in the World