MOST READ: EWN's Top 10 stories in 2016
A summary of what you, our audience, made our most consumed content in 2016.
JOHANNESBURG – We have been watching you. The year 2016 has been filled with shockers, freak moments and some obvious but BIG stories.
We at Eyewitness News closely watch what content our users like and consume so as to continuously adapt the way we do news, to enhance your experience on our website.
Here is a summary of what you, our audience, made our top 10 most consumed content for the year to date. (Who knows what will happen before 31 December?)
1. Tornado hits Gauteng
On Tuesday 26 July social media was abuzz with videos of a tornado which tore through parts of Tembisa along the R21, north east of the OR Tambo International Airport, and motorists reported severe hail. A video of a smaller tornado in the Magaliesburg area made the rounds the next day.
#Tornado and hail spotted near the OR Tambo International Airport by Evan Baillie. KS pic.twitter.com/dm0WxMC2qx
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) July 26, 2016
Click here for the full story
2. President Zuma declares 27 December a public holiday
Everybody loves a break - and when President Jacob Zuma announced that 27 December will be a public holiday, within no time the story became the top trending article on the site.
The Federation of Unions of South Africa made the call as workers in the country would have had 11 public holidays instead of 12, as Christmas Day falls on a Sunday this year.
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3. What Donald Trump really thinks about SA
After he was elected US President in November, Donald Trump was reminded that the internet does not forget.
Twitter files were pulled and South Africa was not spared from Trump's often controversial, ‘off the cuff’ tweets.
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4. SABC ‘saddened’by Rapulana Seiphemo’s life-threatening accident
Popular actor Rapulana Seiphemo, who features in Generations: The Legacy, was involved in a serious car crash in which two people were killed and three others seriously injured.
It was later reported that the two other people travelling Seiphemo’s car were hijackers. The surviving passenger was reportedly under heavy police guard while recovering in a Johannesburg hospital.
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5. Chaos as ‘Zuma Must Fall’ billboard comes down
Supporters of the African National Congress (ANC) were involved in a scuffle with a man who shouted derogatory remarks against President Jacob Zuma after the supporters accessed a building from which a ‘Zuma Must Fall’ banner had been erected.
They claimed the banner disrespected President Zuma.
WATCH: Man assaulted during 'Zuma Must Fall' banner removal
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6. Motorist kills smash-and-grab suspect in Cape Town
A Cape Town man was shot and killed by a female motorist after the man allegedly tried to rob her during a smash-and-grab attempt on Jakes Gerwel Drive.
The stretch of road is notorious for smash-and-grab incidents.
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7. [IN PICTURES] Floods, accidents and lightning strikes as storm hits Gauteng
Heavy rains in Gauteng saw several car accidents, flooding on several roads and reports of lightning strikes.
Flooding in Bedfordview at the Gillooly’s Interchange Traffic brought traffic to a standstill with some vehicles left submerged.
At least seven people, including three-year-old Evelyn Chauke, also known as Everlate, died during heavy rains which resulted in flooding in some parts of Gauteng in November.
#JHBTraffic #Flooding #Linksfield Paramedics are on the scene of a flash flood on the N3 in Linksfield. pic.twitter.com/PiOH2lpt6w
— EWN Traffic (@EWNTraffic) November 9, 2016
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8. First municipal election results in
There were cheers from the ground at the national results centre in Pretoria as the Independent Electoral Commission unveiled the first of its results from the local government elections on 3 August 2016.
The excitement was mainly from the Democratic Alliance (DA) which took the lead the Great Kei municipality.
The final results saw the DA take over three major metros from the ANC through coalitions.
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9. [VIDEO] Tokai murder: Teen’s parents plead for help
Florian and Shireen Blöchliger launched an emotional video appeal for help to find their daughter Franziska’s killers.
WATCH: Tokai murder: Teen's parents plead for help
Four men have been arrested in connection with the kidnapping, rape and murder, after the 16-year-old’s body was discovered in the Tokai Forest.
Blöchliger was abducted and murdered while jogging earlier this year.
The trial is ongoing.
Click here for articles on the Franziska Blöchliger story
10. Khwezi, who accused Zuma of rape, dies
Fezekile Ntsukela Kuzwayo, only known as Khwezi during the 2005-2006 rape trial against President Jacob Zuma, died in October.
Kuzwayo died just weeks after four women staged a silent protest, brandishing placards which read ‘Remember Khwezi’, during President Zuma’s speech at the IEC national results centre after local government elections.
WATCH: Anti-Zuma Protest at IEC 2016 municipal elections announcement
She was laid to rest in a private funeral in her hometown of Durban, after she had been living in exile.
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