Close Menu
TechCentralTechCentral

    Subscribe to the newsletter

    Get the best South African technology news and analysis delivered to your e-mail inbox every morning.

    Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube LinkedIn
    WhatsApp Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn YouTube
    TechCentralTechCentral
    • News
      Malatsi withdraws AI policy after fictitious sources scandal - Solly Malatsi

      Malatsi withdraws AI policy after fictitious sources scandal

      26 April 2026
      How AI could quietly hollow out South Africa's job market

      How AI could quietly hollow out South Africa’s job market

      26 April 2026
      SpaceX bets the rocket farm on AI

      SpaceX bets the rocket farm on AI

      26 April 2026
      Withdraw AI policy, Malatsi told as fake citations row grows - Solly Malatsi

      Withdraw AI policy, Malatsi told, as fake citations row grows

      26 April 2026
      The remarkable turnaround at Intel

      The remarkable turnaround at Intel

      26 April 2026
    • World
      More organic compounds detected on Mars - Nasa Curiosity rover

      More organic compounds detected on Mars

      21 April 2026
      Adobe bets on AI agents to fend off cheaper rivals

      Adobe bets on AI agents to fend off cheaper rivals

      16 April 2026
      Google poised to lose ad crown to Meta

      Google poised to lose ad crown to Meta

      14 April 2026
      Grand Theft Data - hackers hit Rockstar Games - Grand Theft Auto

      Grand Theft Data – hackers hit Rockstar Games

      14 April 2026
      UK PM Keir Starmer declares war on doomscrolling

      UK PM Keir Starmer declares war on doomscrolling

      13 April 2026
    • In-depth
      Africa switches on as Europe dims the lights

      Africa switches on as Europe dims the lights

      9 April 2026
      The biggest untapped EV market on Earth is hiding in plain sight

      The biggest untapped EV market on Earth is hiding in plain sight

      1 April 2026
      The R18-billion tech giant hiding in plain sight - Jens Montanana

      The R16-billion tech giant hiding in plain sight

      26 March 2026
      The last generation of coders

      The last generation of coders

      18 February 2026
      Sentech is in dire straits

      Sentech is in dire straits

      10 February 2026
    • TCS

      TCS+ | ‘The ISP for ISPs’: Vox’s shift to wholesale aggregator

      20 April 2026
      TCS | Werner Lindemann on how AI is rewriting the infosec rulebook

      TCS | Werner Lindemann on how AI is rewriting the infosec rulebook

      15 April 2026
      TCS | Donovan Marsh on AI and the future of filmmaking

      TCS | Donovan Marsh on AI and the future of filmmaking

      7 April 2026
      TCS+ | Vodacom Business moves to crack the SME tech gap - Andrew Fulton, Sannesh Beharie

      TCS+ | Vodacom Business moves to crack the SME tech gap

      7 April 2026
      TCS | MTN's Divysh Joshi on the strategy behind Pi - Divyesh Joshi

      TCS | MTN’s Divyesh Joshi on the strategy behind Pi

      1 April 2026
    • Opinion
      The conflict of interest at the heart of PayShap's slow adoption - Cheslyn Jacobs

      The conflict of interest at the heart of PayShap’s slow adoption

      26 March 2026
      South Africa's energy future hinges on getting wheeling right - Aishah Gire

      South Africa’s energy future hinges on getting wheeling right

      10 March 2026
      Hold the doom: the case for a South African comeback - Duncan McLeod

      Apple just dropped a bomb on the Windows world

      5 March 2026
      R230-million in the bag for Endeavor's third Harvest Fund - Alison Collier

      VC’s centre of gravity is shifting – and South Africa is in the frame

      3 March 2026
      Hold the doom: the case for a South African comeback - Duncan McLeod

      Hold the doom: the case for a South African comeback

      26 February 2026
    • Company Hubs
      • 1Stream
      • Africa Data Centres
      • AfriGIS
      • Altron Digital Business
      • Altron Document Solutions
      • Altron Group
      • Arctic Wolf
      • Ascent Technology
      • AvertITD
      • BBD
      • Braintree
      • CallMiner
      • CambriLearn
      • CYBER1 Solutions
      • Digicloud Africa
      • Digimune
      • Domains.co.za
      • ESET
      • Euphoria Telecom
      • HOSTAFRICA
      • Incredible Business
      • iONLINE
      • IQbusiness
      • Iris Network Systems
      • Kaspersky
      • LSD Open
      • Mitel
      • NEC XON
      • Netstar
      • Network Platforms
      • Next DLP
      • Ovations
      • Paracon
      • Paratus
      • Q-KON
      • SevenC
      • SkyWire
      • Solid8 Technologies
      • Telit Cinterion
      • Telviva
      • Tenable
      • Vertiv
      • Videri Digital
      • Vodacom Business
      • Wipro
      • Workday
      • XLink
    • Sections
      • AI and machine learning
      • Banking
      • Broadcasting and Media
      • Cloud services
      • Contact centres and CX
      • Cryptocurrencies
      • Education and skills
      • Electronics and hardware
      • Energy and sustainability
      • Enterprise software
      • Financial services
      • HealthTech
      • Information security
      • Internet and connectivity
      • Internet of Things
      • Investment
      • IT services
      • Lifestyle
      • Motoring
      • Policy and regulation
      • Public sector
      • Retail and e-commerce
      • Satellite communications
      • Science
      • SMEs and start-ups
      • Social media
      • Talent and leadership
      • Telecoms
    • Events
    • Advertise
    TechCentralTechCentral
    Home » News » The top Google searches in South Africa in 2020

    The top Google searches in South Africa in 2020

    By Staff Reporter9 December 2020
    Twitter LinkedIn Facebook WhatsApp Email Telegram Copy Link
    News Alerts
    WhatsApp

    Google has published its annual “Year in Search” findings, in which it reveals the top trending search terms in South Africa – and other countries around the world.

    In 2020, “coronavirus” was, not surprisingly, the top search term. Recipes for pineapple beer also featured highly, thanks to government’s booze ban during the hard lockdown in April and May.

    “Pandemic notwithstanding, South Africans’ love affair with sport, celebrities and politics remained unchanged,” Google said in a statement.

    The top 10 trending searches in South Africa in 2020 were:

    1. Coronavirus
    2. US elections update
    3. Sasol share price
    4. Level-3 lockdown South Africa
    5. Children’s Day
    6. Hantavirus
    7. Load shedding
    8. Cigarettes ban South Africa
    9. Teacher’s Day
    10. Leap Day

    The top trending questions were:

    1. How to apply for an unemployment grant?
    2. Who won the election?
    3. What time is the President on tonight?
    4. What is coronavirus?
    5. What is 5G?
    6. Where does vanilla flavouring come from?
    7. Why were cornflakes invented?
    8. Where to buy beer during lockdown?
    9. Why were chainsaws invented?
    10. How to make hand sanitiser?

    The top trending South African personalities were:

    1. Katlego Maboe
    2. Nikita Murray
    3. Edwin Sodi
    4. Lerato Kganyago
    5. Menzi Ngubane
    6. Jackie Phamotse
    7. Tino Chinyani
    8. Sophie Ndaba
    9. Nomcebo Zikode
    10. Monique Muller

    The top trending political figures were:

    1. Joe Biden
    2. Kim Jong Un
    3. Kamala Harris
    4. Boris Johnson
    5. Angie Motshekga
    6. Ace Magashule
    7. Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams
    8. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma
    9. Andile Lungisa
    10. Bheki Cele

    The top trending sports searches were:

    1. Premier League
    2. England vs South Africa
    3. PSL standings
    4. IPL
    5. Champions League
    6. South Africa vs Australia
    7. La Liga
    8. Serie A
    9. Europa League
    10. Kaizer Chiefs vs Mamelodi Sundowns

    The top trending recipes were:

    1. Pizza dough recipe
    2. Doughnut recipe
    3. Pineapple beer recipe
    4. Banana loaf recipe
    5. Pancakes recipe
    6. Magwinya recipe
    7. Lemon meringue recipe
    8. Cinnabon recipe
    9. Naan bread recipe
    10. Pornstar martini recipe

    Search trends information is gleaned from data collated by Google based on what South Africans have been searching for and asking. – © 2020 NewsCentral Media

    Follow TechCentral on Google News Add TechCentral as your preferred source on Google


    Google top
    WhatsApp YouTube
    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Email Copy Link
    Previous ArticleApple will ban apps that don’t comply with new privacy feature
    Next Article MTN plans to sell part of its South African tower portfolio

    Related Posts

    SpaceX bets the rocket farm on AI

    SpaceX bets the rocket farm on AI

    26 April 2026
    Middle-class South Africa is ditching streaming for AI

    Middle-class South Africa is ditching streaming for AI

    23 April 2026
    The AI agent race is on - and Google wants to win it - Sundar Pichai

    The AI agent race is on – and Google wants to win it

    22 April 2026
    Company News
    Cybersecurity in the age of AI: why speed and trust now define resilience - iqbusiness

    Cybersecurity in the AI age: speed and trust define resilience

    24 April 2026
    Security by design is the channel's strongest pitch - Othelo Vieira

    Security by design is the channel’s strongest pitch

    23 April 2026
    Your brand is invisible to the AI that's choosing your competitor - Michelle Losco

    Your brand is invisible to the AI that’s choosing your competitor

    23 April 2026
    Opinion
    The conflict of interest at the heart of PayShap's slow adoption - Cheslyn Jacobs

    The conflict of interest at the heart of PayShap’s slow adoption

    26 March 2026
    South Africa's energy future hinges on getting wheeling right - Aishah Gire

    South Africa’s energy future hinges on getting wheeling right

    10 March 2026
    Hold the doom: the case for a South African comeback - Duncan McLeod

    Apple just dropped a bomb on the Windows world

    5 March 2026

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the best South African technology news and analysis delivered to your e-mail inbox every morning.

    Latest Posts
    Malatsi withdraws AI policy after fictitious sources scandal - Solly Malatsi

    Malatsi withdraws AI policy after fictitious sources scandal

    26 April 2026
    How AI could quietly hollow out South Africa's job market

    How AI could quietly hollow out South Africa’s job market

    26 April 2026
    SpaceX bets the rocket farm on AI

    SpaceX bets the rocket farm on AI

    26 April 2026
    Withdraw AI policy, Malatsi told as fake citations row grows - Solly Malatsi

    Withdraw AI policy, Malatsi told, as fake citations row grows

    26 April 2026
    © 2009 - 2026 NewsCentral Media
    • Cookie policy (ZA)
    • TechCentral – privacy and Popia

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    Manage consent

    TechCentral uses cookies to enhance its offerings. Consenting to these technologies allows us to serve you better. Not consenting or withdrawing consent may adversely affect certain features and functions of the website.

    Functional Always active
    The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
    Preferences
    The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
    Statistics
    The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
    Marketing
    The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
    • Manage options
    • Manage services
    • Manage {vendor_count} vendors
    • Read more about these purposes
    View preferences
    • {title}
    • {title}
    • {title}