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Compiled by Kyle Zeeman

Digital News Editor


Go Springbox! Eskort billboard brings out the spelling police

President Cyril Ramaphosa and Police Minister Bheki Cele were among those catching strays.


A billboard wishing the SA national rugby team well at the World Cup has shot up the Twitter/X trend list, with South Africans in meltdown mode over its spelling.

The Springboks jetted out of OR Tambo International Airport in Joburg this past weekend for the rugby showpiece in France, and a billboard in the area wishing them well had many gasping for air.

“Go Springbox! Love Eskort,” it reads, alongside a South African flag.

The billboard is part of a campaign by the company, which also includes social media posts with the same message. Attempts by The Citizen to get comment on the campaign were unsuccessful at the time of publishing, and any updates will be included.

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While some applauded the company’s patriotism, others dragged them for misspelling the name of beloved Boks.

Social media was filled with reaction, with President Cyril Ramaphosa and Police Minister Bheki Cele among those catching strays.

Basic Education minister Angie Motshekga also got some of the “blame” for the “error”, with a few claiming the billboard was a “sign” of her failure.

Here’s a look at some of the hilarious reactions posted online:

https://twitter.com/LeeMpaki/status/1691384593306251264
https://twitter.com/kelow_C/status/1691377863105159168
https://twitter.com/kelow_C/status/1691401401853734913
https://twitter.com/MissTinah_M/status/1691401969552834560
https://twitter.com/Kamogelo_MN/status/1691401843685961729
https://twitter.com/Langelihle_S/status/1691401477380530177

‘Springbox’ at the ‘Staduim’

Perhaps the company is taking a leaf out of Cassper Nyovest’s book?

The rapper trended in 2016 when he wore a shirt promoting his Fill Up Orlando Stadium concert but spelt the word stadium wrong.

ALSO READ: Unlike Cassper, AKA is ‘nice with spell check’

He carried on wearing the merch and thanked all those who dragged him for promoting his show.

“Anything to destroy Nyovest, huh? Thanks for the promo,” he told his haters.

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Billboards Springboks (Bokke/Boks)