“What time is the president tonight?” Top Google Searches for SA in 2020

• Google has published the best search results of the year among South African Internet users.
• Unsurprisingly, lockdown and coronavirus rules dominated.
• But the origin stories of a popular breakfast cereal were also featured, as well as chainsaws.
• For more articles, go to www.BusinessInsider.co.za.

2020 left everyone looking for answers. The latest data from Google shows that South Africans were preoccupied with the big questions with their search queries, but they also wanted to know if vanilla really comes from beaver butts.

These were the top trending questions in South Africa this year:

1. How to apply for an unemployment scholarship?

The R350 grants, formally known as Social Relief of Distress (SRD) payments, were launched at the beginning of the shutdown to help the unemployed who receive no other state support. So far, almost 19.8 million payments have been made to the tune of R6.9 billion.

South Africans can apply via WhatsApp, email, and USSD.

2. Who won the elections?

This is presumably a reference to the US elections, which were held on November 3, but President Donald Trump has not yet accepted the results.

3. What time is the president tonight?

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s nightly broadcasts during the shutdown were closely followed across the country. These “family gatherings” were used to announce changes to closure levels and regulations.

4. What is the coronavirus?

A pointy ball the size of a smoke particle, sharing roughly 80% of its 30,000 letter genome with SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), a virus that comes from bats, occupied millions of minds.

5. What is 5G?

5G is the newest iteration of mobile data standards and is approximately ten times faster than 4G and one hundred times faster than 3G. It was launched by South African networks this year. Elsewhere, it has sparked wild conspiracy theories, including that 5G causes health problems and that Covid-19 is a kind of “cover-up” for the dangers of 5G.

READ | Here’s what you need to know about 5G in South Africa, including what it costs and where to find it

6. Where does the vanilla flavoring come from?

This is presumed to have to do with reports, featured on the social media platform TikTok, that a chemical compound used in some vanilla scents comes from the anal glands of beavers.

7. Why were corn flakes invented?

In all likelihood, this has to do with claims that John Harvey Kellogg invented corn flakes in 1894 to prevent masturbation. He reportedly calculated that a bland breakfast should stop any potential cravings.

8. Where to buy beer during the confinement?

Many South Africans were caught without enough alcohol to pass the first phase of the lockdown, when the sale of alcohol was banned.

9. Why were chainsaws invented?

This comes from a viral TikTok video that claims it was made up to help with childbirth. (This is partially true).

10. How to make hand sanitizer

In short, the solution must be at least 60% alcohol.

READ | How to make your own hand sanitizer and cleaning wipes

When it comes to more general search topics, these were the top trends on Google in 2020:

1. Coronavirus

2. Update on the US elections

3. Price of Sasol shares

In just a couple of weeks, Sasol’s stock price plummeted from over R300 to close to R20 as the full scale of budget overruns and other problems at its Lake Charles project in the US became apparent.

Since then, his share price has recovered to around R130, which means that he would have made a profit of more than 500% if he had invested at the lowest point.

4. Level 3 lock

South Africa moved to Level 3 on June 1, which meant restaurant meals were allowed again, as well as group exercise. Level 3 lasted until August 18, when the country moved to level 2.

5. Children’s Day

The first Saturday in November celebrates progress in promoting the rights of the child.

6. Hantavirus

The deadly disease, which is transmitted through the body fluids of rats, reappeared this year.

7. Load displacement

Along with its other joys, 2020 was also the worst year on record for SA’s electricity supply, resulting in the most “intensive” load shedding to date.

8. Cigarette ban in South Africa

The government instituted a controversial tobacco sale ban at the beginning of the shutdown in March, which was only lifted in mid-August. The government maintained that there is a direct link between severe cases of Covid-19 and smoking.

9. Teacher’s Day

Around the world, teachers are honored on October 5.

10. Leap day

It wasn’t your imagination, 2020 felt very long, in part because it was a leap year, with an additional day on February 29.

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