Cyril Ramaphosa's shoelace-tying shopping mall moment goes viral
President Cyril Ramaphosa added a heartwarming task to his public duties this week: Tying a child's shoelaces.
During a walkabout at Canal Walk Shopping Centre in Cape Town, the president paused his greetings to help a young girl whose shoelaces had come undone.
In a moment trending on social media, Cyril Ramaphosa was seen placing his phone and bag on the ground before crouching down to tie the laces himself – an act met with smiles, applause, and a chorus of 'Awww' from the surrounding crowd.
The unplanned gesture drew praise across platforms, with many South Africans celebrating the president's humility and calling the moment 'classic Cupcake' – referencing his long-standing nickname.
While the shoelaces themselves declined to comment, the online verdict was clear: It was a presidential knot well tied. @moziarora
What an honour being up close to the one and only @President Ramaphosa❤️🙏🏾.. ♬ original sound – Moziarora
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
TimesLIVE
4 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Raymond Ledwaba on writing 'The First-Generation Founder'
When I first sat down to tell my story, I wasn't trying to write a book. I was trying to prove to myself that no challenge was insurmountable. On a subconscious level, I also think I wanted to prove that I belonged. That my success was not only earned, but deserved. Like so many young black South Africans, I've dealt with impostor syndrome all my life. I'd speak on panels and pitch to rooms filled with confidence, only to come home and second-guess every word I said. That's what impostor syndrome does: it follows you into your biggest moments and tells you you're not enough. So the book? It started as a quiet rebellion. A way to wrestle with that inner critic and say: 'No. My story matters.' But I'll be honest: writing it was far harder than I imagined. I thought telling my story would be straightforward. I'd lived it, after all. But it turns out reliving your own life on paper is like holding a mirror to parts of yourself you'd rather leave blurry. The toughest part wasn't the structure or even the editing, it was deciding what to include and what to leave out. How much vulnerability is too much? When does honesty become oversharing? The blank page became my greatest adversary. I'd sit for hours writing and rewriting the same sentence, convinced that someone smarter, more accomplished or more eloquent should be the one telling this story. Because my publisher approached me to write the book and I didn't follow the typical process other writers go through to get published, I felt guilty. I kept telling myself that there are too many people out there more deserving of the opportunity and privilege to write a book. That's impostor syndrome again, poking its head through the keyboard. Then there were the funny moments — now, anyway. Like the time I spent an entire afternoon trying to craft the perfect opening line, only to realise at midnight I'd unconsciously copied the start of The Lion King intro. Or the time I tried to dictate a chapter during a walk and my phone's voice-to-text app turned a serious story about financial pressure into an absurd tale about 'funding stress caused by pasta expansion'. Let's not even get into the moment I realised I'd left out an entire chapter from the second draft, one I'd spent two weekends perfecting. Gone. Nowhere to be found. I still blame iCloud, but the truth is probably poor file naming and a late-night coffee crash. And the shameful mistake of identifying a living aunt as deceased in my family tree. What got me through? Remembering who this book was for. Yes, it's my story, but I wrote it for the person out there who's unsure if their voice matters. Who thinks they need permission to tell their truth. I wanted to show that the act of writing is itself an act of courage. I also wanted to document my heritage. That's why my book starts with my family tree, which covers six generations. I could have certainly included more family members (particularly on my paternal grandmother's side) had I not been too 'busy' for my (now late) father when he wanted to spend time with me and take me to other relatives who could fill in his blanks. Here is a piece of unsolicited advice — cherish every moment with your parents and ask them thousands of questions about your lineage (and document them). Back to the book — through all the doubt, the laughter, the lost files and misplaced commas, I found something I didn't expect. I found pride. Not in perfection, but in showing up, even when I didn't feel ready. Telling your story forces you to take ownership of it. Once you do that, impostor syndrome doesn't vanish but it does get quieter. Because you've got something real to point to and say: 'I built that. That's mine.' And that, I've learnt, is more powerful than doubt will ever be.
The South African
5 hours ago
- The South African
Hollywood star Jared Leto under fire for misconduct allegations
Hollywood actor Jared Leto, known for his roles in films like House of Gucci and Suicide Squad , now finds himself at the centre of serious allegations. Nine women have come forward accusing the 53-year-old star of predatory and inappropriate behaviour. Some are even claiming the incidents occurred when they were minors. The controversy reignited recently after Los Angeles DJ Allie Teilz shared a decade-old Facebook post on Instagram. She alleged that Leto tried to force himself on her backstage when she was just 17. 'He knew my age and didn't care,' Teilz said. 'What he did was predatory, terrifying and unacceptable.' She described the encounter vividly: 'You're not really in L.A. until Jared Leto tries to force himself on you… in a kilt and a snow hat'. Model Laura La Rue also spoke out, recounting an unsettling experience from 2008 when she was 16. She said Leto asked her age and, despite knowing she was underage, asked for her phone number, according to People. La Rue recalled visiting his Los Angeles home in 2009, where he allegedly flirted and teased her. She also claimed that when she was 17, Jared Leto once walked out of a room completely naked. 'I thought maybe that's just what grown men did,' she said. Another woman described a disturbing incident where Leto, during a visit to his home, exposed himself and masturbated in front of her after she turned 18. He reportedly grabbed her hand and asked her to spit on him. The woman also said their relationship began with flirty texts while she was still underage. Leto's representatives have strongly denied all allegations. A spokesperson said the communications with La Rue 'contain nothing sexual or inappropriate' and claimed she later applied to be Leto's assistant, which La Rue denies. Regarding Teilz's accusations, the rep called them 'demonstrably false.' The actor himself has yet to comment publicly on the matter. One anonymous accuser told Air Mail , 'It's been an open secret for a long time.' The flood of claims against Jared Leto underscores the need for deeper scrutiny and justice in Hollywood and beyond. As this story develops, it will be crucial to watch how the actor responds and what legal or industry actions follow. Meanwhile, the voices of these women demand attention and respect, urging a culture of transparency and safety for all. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
6 hours ago
- The South African
Cyril Ramaphosa's shoelace-tying shopping mall moment goes viral
President Cyril Ramaphosa added a heartwarming task to his public duties this week: Tying a child's shoelaces. During a walkabout at Canal Walk Shopping Centre in Cape Town, the president paused his greetings to help a young girl whose shoelaces had come undone. In a moment trending on social media, Cyril Ramaphosa was seen placing his phone and bag on the ground before crouching down to tie the laces himself – an act met with smiles, applause, and a chorus of 'Awww' from the surrounding crowd. The unplanned gesture drew praise across platforms, with many South Africans celebrating the president's humility and calling the moment 'classic Cupcake' – referencing his long-standing nickname. While the shoelaces themselves declined to comment, the online verdict was clear: It was a presidential knot well tied. @moziarora What an honour being up close to the one and only @President Ramaphosa❤️🙏🏾.. ♬ original sound – Moziarora Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
