Switzerland defeats Colombia on penalties in World Cup Round of 16: Switzerland advances past Colombia in a dramatic World Cup penalty shootout, capturing widespread sports fan attention.
Archived Pulse in South Africa
Country pulse digest
Wednesday, July 8, 2026
Archived Pulse in South Africa
South Africans are actively following key World Cup matches, showing strong support for their teams and international fixtures. At the same time, political tensions, particularly concerning President Ramaphosa and opposition leader Julius Malema, are fueling public debates.
Active topics
23
Search volume
167.9K
Leading topic
Sports
Attention mix
What the country is searching
23
Sports48% (11)
Politics22% (5)
Money13% (3)
World9% (2)
Health4% (1)
Life4% (1)
Why people are curious
People in South Africa are curious mainly to follow major sporting events, especially the FIFA World Cup, to keep updated on match outcomes, schedules, and player performances, indicating a strong intent to stay engaged and connected to international football. Politically, there is an intent to explain and debate the complexities surrounding prominent figures like Cyril Ramaphosa and Julius Malema, driven by recent controversies and diplomatic issues. Economic queries reflect an intent to understand and prepare for the impact of fluctuating fuel prices and tax processes on personal finances.
What to know now
The pulse, explained
Argentina outlasts Egypt with Messi leading comeback: Argentina makes a thrilling 3-2 comeback win over Egypt in the World Cup Round of 16, with Lionel Messi's key performance highlighted.
Divine Lunga escapes Johannesburg shooting: Zimbabwean footballer Divine Lunga survives a shooting incident in Johannesburg unharmed, raising security concerns.
South African Premiership enjoys spike in engagement: South African Premiership football experiences a surge in fan interest due to recent exciting matches and team developments.
Ghana rejects Ramaphosa’s visit over xenophobia concerns: Cyril Ramaphosa faces diplomatic tensions as Ghana rejects his visit amidst xenophobic attack concerns.
Ranked searches
What people are curious about in South Africa
The leading searches, their context, and the related questions forming around them.
01
PoliticsCooling
mel viljoen back a buddy
There is concern about the shutdown of Peet Viljoen's legal defense fundraiser on BackaBuddy, prompting searches for more information.
1K+ searches · 400% growthLast seen 4 days ago
peet viljoen back a buddybackabuddy
02
SportsCooling
switzerland vs colombia
Switzerland defeated Colombia in a thrilling World Cup penalty shootout to reach the quarter-finals, drawing significant attention.
50K+ searches · 1,000% growthLast seen 4 days ago
colombia vs switzerlandcolombia
03
SportsCooling
egypt vs argentina
Argentina staged an impressive 3-2 comeback win against Egypt in the World Cup Round of 16, with Lionel Messi playing a pivotal role.
50K+ searches · 1,000% growthLast seen 4 days ago
argentina vs egypt predictionmessi
04
SportsCooling
divine lunga
Zimbabwean footballer Divine Lunga survived a shooting incident in Johannesburg and is reported unharmed after the attack.
20K+ searches · 1,000% growthLast seen 4 days ago
05
SportsCooling
south african premiership
South African Premiership is experiencing a significant surge in interest, evidenced by increased online searches and high engagement with recent match reports on ESPN.
10K+ searches · 1,000% growthLast seen 4 days ago
06
PoliticsCooling
cyril ramaphosa
The rejection of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's visit by Ghana amid xenophobic tensions has led to increased public interest and searches seeking to understand the.
10K+ searches · 1,000% growthLast seen 4 days ago
president of south africaghana
07
PoliticsCooling
julius malema
Julius Malema is attracting significant debate as he faces legal challenges and political controversies in South Africa, prompting public discussion about his future role.
5K+ searches · 900% growthLast seen 4 days ago
08
MoneyCooling
august 2026 fuel price forecast
Search interest in South Africa's August 2026 fuel price forecast has surged due to concerns about fluctuating fuel costs and their impact on households and businesses.
2K+ searches · 1,000% growthLast seen 4 days ago
fuel prices south africa
)
09
SportsCooling
fifa world cup quarter-finals schedule
Fans are actively searching for the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals schedule to keep up with match fixtures and results.
2K+ searches · 1,000% growthLast seen 4 days ago
fifa world cup fixtures
10
SportsCooling
miguel cardoso
Miguel Cardoso has gained significant attention following his achievements and leadership in South African football, especially with Mamelodi Sundowns.
2K+ searches · 1,000% growthLast seen 4 days ago
11
PoliticsCooling
police
Searches around 'police' relate to recent incidents involving law enforcement actions and legislative changes on police use of force.
2K+ searches · 1,000% growthLast seen 4 days ago
12
WorldCooling
refugee law
Interest in 'refugee law' centers on discussions about rights, protections, and recent policy proposals related to refugees worldwide.
2K+ searches · 800% growthLast seen 4 days ago
Politics / Worrying | 4 days ago
mel viljoen back a buddy
Why it matters
CoolingThis topic was last observed 4 days ago; its earlier momentum should now be read as historical, backed by 1K+ recorded searches. People are searching to understand a possible risk or disruption.
Last seen 4 days ago
Reporting and context
Source coverage helping explain why this topic is moving.
BackaBuddy shuts down Mel Viljoen’s campaign to raise R400 000 for husband’s legal fees - News24
Peet Viljoen’s R400 000 legal defence fundraiser shut down by BackaBuddy - IOL
Peet Viljoen Launched A BackaBuddy Campaign To Help Pay For His Legal Fees - 2oceansvibe News
Peet Viljoen to apply for bail as BackaBuddy removes R400,000 legal fundraiser - IOL
BackaBuddy campaign launched to pay for Peet Viljoen’s legal bills - The Citizen
The wider weekly pattern
Curiosity trail
Related searches that led here, appeared alongside it, or followed.