Google’s Year in Search: South Africa’s top searches of 2017

Google has announced the results of its 2017 Year in Search, offering a unique perspective on the year’s major moments and top trends based on searches conducted in South Africa. The results show what people, places, and things were trending around the globe this year, what was the top trending news moment of the last 12 months,
Which TV shows trended to the top and grabbed people’s attention.

This year’s trending searches show growing interest in local celebrities and events, with seven of the top 10 trending search terms being local, in contrast to fewer than half last year. South Africans are also increasingly using search to find local businesses – the ‘near me’ search list shows what types of businesses South Africans look for in their neighbourhoods and highlights the importance of these (often small) businesses being online and findable.

Here is a list of the top searches in South Africa:

Top trending South African searches

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

Trending personalities

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

Top ‘near me’ searches

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

Top TV Shows

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

Top searched recipes

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

Edited by Fundisiwe Maseko
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