This according to Google Zeitgeist, a tool which provides insight into global, regional, past and present search trends.  Bees’ rise to the top can be attributed to his recent arrest last Friday, following his alleged murder of a Metro police officer in Tshwane.

 

Zeitgeist results also indicate that South Africans have taken to banking from the comfort of their homes, with FNB online banking and Absa internet banking taking up the third and sixth positions respectively. Interestingly, more South Africans have also been keen to sign up for Gmail and Facebook, whilst some citizens have expressed their continued love for soccer by searching for the Premier Soccer League (PSL).

 

When looking at a longer time frame, Google Zeitgeist has also revealed the top newsmakers for August. South African playwright, author, actress and Weakest Link presenter, Fiona Coyne, has been ranked first and second on the list of fastest rising news searches from the past 30 days. Many were shocked by her sudden death, believed to be a suicide, on the 18th August.

 

The current public sector strike also has a prominent position on the list, followed by football teams,  Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Liverpool - once again illustrating South Africa’s obsession with sport. Fire brand ANC Youth League leader, Julius Malema, makes an appearance at number 6, with SA’s Mother City, Cape Town, coming in in ninth place. Searches for Cape Town peaked on the 22nd August, the same day the Athlone cooling towers were demolished.