POLOKWANE – If you were to open any daily newspaper or switch on the tv at any point in the year, you would have most likely heard the words ‘State Capture’.

The Pan South African Language Board says the words ‘state capture’ were used 20,231 times in over 11,000 South African newspapers.

The term gained fame after it was used in the title of former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s 355-page report.

PanSALB said candidates for word of the year were reviewed to determine what best captured the philosophy, mood or obsession of that particular year.

Here are the words that were nominated:

WINNER:

State capture

It is a type of systemic political corruption in which private interests significantly influence a state’s decision-making processes to their own advantage.

Runners Up:

Blesser

Blesser is a slang term for a rich man who offers support (typically financial and material) to a younger female companion.

Use it in a sentence: She went on holiday to Dubai with her blesser. 

White monopoly capital

The term ‘white monopoly capital’ was used mostly to build animosity towards critics of President Zuma and shifting the blame from the country’s economic woes.

It was allegedly the master idea by London-listed PR firm Bell Pottinger, who made headlines this year for being linked to the Gupta family.

Dololo

Dololo literally means “nothing”

The term became popular among the youth of South Africa in 2017.

Use it in a sentence:

“Hey man, do you want to come out with us tonight?”

I’d love to but dololo money!

Wololo

“Wololo” was made popular by KZN star Babes Wodumo, who released the hit song in 2016.

Wololo means “Oh yeah”, so if you’re having a great time, simply shout ‘wololo!’

Tholukuthi

Directly translated, ‘Tholukuthi’ means “You’ll find that”

Killer Kau recorded and uploaded a video on singing lyrics “Tholukthi Hey” to the beat the video set tongues wagging in SA.

https://twitter.com/Mdudemeister/status/893564187317817345

Popular DJ, Euphonik reached out to Killer Kau to collaborate and the song became a hit on radio stations across the country.

Just killed @taboo_jhb with @killerKau #THOLUKUTHIHEY pic.twitter.com/UCpYnLV3OX

— Euphonik™♛ (@euphonik) August 5, 2017

Satafrika

The word ‘satafrika’ stems from a trending topic on Twitter, where users shared lingo about how ordinary South Africans talk, using the hashtag #LearnSatafrikan.

#LearnSatafrikan
What time it is 15:15

Whites : Quarter past three
Blacks : Kora pass trii

— FutureTreasure (@GiftLucky9) July 21, 2017

https://twitter.com/Tshegokiie/status/883303681806000130

#LearnSatafrikan

English :Plastic bag
SataFrika: Checkers

— Itumeleng Molotsane (@MolotsaneItu) July 7, 2017

Since then, it has become the go-to word for things South African’s do in a typical South African way.

#SatAfrika 😂😂😂 https://t.co/KqMCTzTDzK

— Sinethemba Sakati Mlokoti™ (@Sinethemba_S) October 10, 2017

LMFAO😂😂😂😂… Only in #SataFrika https://t.co/5zEFlOFa5z

— Mpongo kaZingelwayo👑 (@Sphyso_N) October 16, 2017

you gotta love #SATAFRIKA https://t.co/bEahE4aySv

— The Recovering Problem Child (@MxouM) September 30, 2017

Tell us, what would have been your South African Word of the Year for 2017?

Vote on our poll on Twitter!

State Capture was voted South Africa's Word of the Year by the Pan South African Language Board. What would have been your word of the year?

— Polokwane Review (@PolokwaneReview) October 17, 2017

raeesak@nmgroup.co.za