It’s that time of the year when we start introspecting about the highs and lows of 2015, and where better to do that than on social media?
From student protests to celebrity tiffs, Twitter made sure South Africans got their bite-sized outrage, rants and reflections trending.
Under the hashtag #ThingsTo-BeLeftIn2015 this week, we were reminded of the events that had us hammering away at the keyboards of our phones or laptops.
On a serious note, there was:
#FeesMustFall
The nationwide protests against fee increases and the outsourcing of cleaning staff in higher education institutions is undoubtedly the year’s biggest talking point.
Students used social media, particularly Twitter, to express their views and galvanise support for the protests. They also exposed barbaric acts of police violence and intimidation.
In the end, their demands for a no-fee increase and an end to outsourcing were met by some institutions, but the fight for access to affordable education is far from over.
#DianneKohlerBarnard
In a humiliating lesson on how not to use social media, Democratic Alliance MP Dianne Kohler Barnard shared a Facebook post that called for the return of former apartheid- era president PW “Groot Krokodil” Botha. Cue Twitter outrage, and punishment – she was expelled for bringing the party into disrepute.
See what happens when you press “share” or “tweet” without reading? Here’s hoping Kohler Barnard and others have learned their lesson – tweeting without thinking must fall!
#Load-shedding
Eskom chief Brian Molefe announced that there will likely be no load-shedding until at least April 30 2016. Well, that’s frankly not good enough – we’d like our lights on. Give us a break, Eskom. We demand lasting solutions.
#ZumaNumbers
Hopefully Number 1 will take time during the December holidays to practice how to read numbers out loud and accurately. I still don’t understand why it’s called a “prepared speech for delivery” if the person who delivers the speech didn’t even practise reading the numbers before addressing the nation. Mr President, take us seriously.
#CassperNyovestvsAKA
The feud between AKA and Cassper Nyovest, whose “diss tracks” of each other have divided hip-hop fans, must end. Their fans continue to trade blows on Twitter, but others are long over the drama. Gents, please stop acting like schoolboys.
Now on to the more entertaining tweets that came out of #ThingsToBeLeftIn2015.
As for me, the things I’d like to see the back of this year are trolls, skinny jeans, black tax, stolen tweets, nyaope and snake pastors.
Sthembiso Sithole is the Mail & Guardian’s social media editor.