President Cyril Ramaphosa’s ‘clock it’ divides South African youth

President Cyril Ramaphosa ‘clocked it’ in a speech he delivered late last week, 14 August 2026, as he welcomed the students of the University of Johannesburg to the campus. The President, who was addressing the students on the importance of education and the role of the youth in shaping the future of the country, decided to use the slang term ‘clock it’ to connect with the younger generation.

The term ‘clock it’, which is popular among the youth, generally means to notice, observe, or understand something. However, the President’s attempt to use the slang term has sparked a debate among South Africans, with some finding it endearing and others feeling it was an attempt to appear ‘cool’ or ‘relatable’ that fell flat.

It is important for us to engage with the youth in a language they understand, but there is a fine line between being relatable and trying too hard.

Social media platforms have been abuzz with reactions, with many users sharing clips of the speech and debating whether the President’s use of the term was appropriate for his office. While some argue that it shows he is in touch with current trends, others believe it was unnecessary and distracted from the serious message he was trying to convey.