Viral Videos Uniting South Africa: Highlights of 2023

Viral videos have a unique way of bringing people together, allowing us to share in laughter, awe, and disbelief. In South Africa, these moments often become a shared experience, as seen through various viral videos that captured the nation’s attention.

In March of the previous year, a particular video surfaced involving a frustrated floor manager who tripped a cellphone thief at a Superspar in Parow. This incident quickly became the talk of the town, with the video garnering over a million views within 24 hours. The scene showed the would-be thief comically falling and sliding across the floor, capturing the collective imagination of viewers.

Cape Town is renowned for its beautiful beaches, but one viral video resonated with many due to its relatable content. A video portraying the struggle of climbing steep stairs after a beach day was shared by a comedian and quickly received almost 800,000 views.

Another beloved viral clip featured a performance of the South African hit song ‘Nkalakatha’ by Mandoza, released in 2000. The video showed Rojhey Herselman demonstrating his impressive Kwaito dance moves, reminding viewers of the timeless appeal of the song. This video amassed over three million views.

In the realm of amusing competitions, a video emerged showing two grocery delivery scooters partaking in a humorous drag race. This not only entertained South Africans but became a viral sensation with over 90,000 views.

A local brand, LekkeSlaap, captivated audiences with a comedic advert that attracted an impressive 9.6 million views. The video narrated the story of a family introducing their children, all named after towns they had visited, offering a humorous take on South African culture.

Marine life continues to fascinate, and a video filmed by Kade Tame during 2021 captured an awe-inspiring gathering of dolphins and whales. Although initially shot in Fish Hoek, the video crossed borders and became popular internationally, securing over 400,000 views.

Another heartwarming clip showed a joyous taxi marshal in Sea Point performing his duties with an infectious positive spirit. This clip resonated with many, amassing praise from over 63,000 South Africans who admired the man’s enthusiastic approach to his work.

Among the year-end highlights was seven-year-old Dirkco Jansen van Nieuwenhuizen from Mpumalanga, who won hearts nationwide with a passionate dance performance to Bernice West’s ‘Lyfie.’ His unplanned showcase stole the spotlight at his sister’s concert, enchanting nearly eight million TikTok users.

While viral videos are often a source of entertainment, some serve to highlight more serious issues. In December 2023, a video of a baboon helping itself to a meal at a diner in Miller's Point drew significant attention. Diners reacted unfavorably, with some throwing items at the baboon to drive it away, raising questions about human-wildlife interactions.

Illustrating the enduring impact of educators, a video showing students from Belhar surprising their teacher with a heartfelt prank and gift went viral. The emotional scene gathered 3.2 million views and reflected the profound influence teachers have on their students’ lives.