‘Where’s The Shoe George?’
Photo Credit: Screenshot from Video

South Africans have united under a common purpose this month: solving a mystery. What began with one woman’s question, ‘Where’s the shoe, George?’ Has become something of a national investigation. Here’s what’s going on!

 

South Africa (22 October 2024) — It’s not every day that an entire country joins you in finding out whether a scandal in your marriage is afoot. But for one TikTok user, that’s exactly what happened after she asked the question that’s been on repeat in every South African’s mind: ‘Where’s the shoe, George?’.

@vinceleelouche Haibo Guys😹Kanti we are still looking for the shoes namanje? @Netflix South Africa has just joined the Hunt now and they taking things to another level! Wild🤣 @Lene Si Chang #whereistheshoesgoerge #netflix ♬ original sound – Sthuli Sasengweni

It began as a video that quickly soared to viral status (and, dare we say, a damn-near state of national emergency) from George’s wife. Here, she revealed to the internet that she had found a receipt for R18,300; an amount that she believed her husband paid for a pair of women’s Gucci shoes. Shoes that his wife never received.

@nomjikelomdebengu #duet with @Lene Si Chang #SAMA28 #trendingvideo #incaseyoumissedit ♬ original sound – Lene Si Chang

A scandal perfumed the air, and South Africans wasted no time in inhaling. Before we could repeat the question, internet sleuths had already begun deep dive investigations that SAPs could take a few notes from.

The investigation led to a series of hilarious reactions. Nando’s gave their spicy two cents, the matter was taken to TikTok court, and the exact shoe style was even identified from the information on the receipt. Everyone was on the search. George was not safe. Thousands of people were onto his alleged sneakiness in the most nationally invested unravelling of receipts since Sonia Booth and the cheesecake scandal.

Watch: South Africans on George’s Case

@nandos_southafricaThis searching business is hungry work 🕵️🔍

♬ original sound – Lene Si Chang

@brendenr22 Log Entry into National Investigation- George where is the shoe?👠🇿🇦 Thursday (17/10) – 11:26am #southafrica #southafricatiktok #tiktoksouthafrica #georgewherestheshoe #nikhona ♬ original sound – Brenden Roberts🇿🇦

@tshepomaise No because where the heck is the update??? Stop taking us for a one😭😭🫵🏽we demand answers. You guys included us in this😭😭we need to know. Also Marlene at Gucci, you know the answer👀 #viral #fyp #trendingvideo #abcxyz #mzansicomedy #relatable #student #foryoupage❤️❤️ #devi #investigation #crimetok ♬ Suspenseful and tense orchestra(1318015) – SoLaTiDo

@jodelltantij GUYS !!! 😭 the truth we have all been waiting for #fyp #georgewhereistheshoe @5FM ♬ original sound – jodell tantij

Fast forward to the past weekend, and the plot has thickened. 5fm’s Jodell Tantij finally got in touch with the man of the hour himself to ask him the infamous question. “Where’s the shoe, George?”

Here, George shared his side, finally.

According to him, he was ‘involved with the shoes”, adding that a friend had rung him to meet. The story goes that the two went to Sandton because said friend wanted to surprise his own wife with the shoes.

George said that how the receipt ended up in his car was a mystery to him, too.

When Jodell asked why he didn’t just tell his wife this, George said that it would’ve spoiled the surprise…

While some South Africans have accepted this development, others aren’t buying it (and might already be waist-deep in investigations as to who George’s friend is).

Needless to say, when South Africans get behind something, there will be answers (or at least a few giggles). So, to anyone considering dipping their toes in scandalous waters, let this be your precautionary tale.


Sources: Various (Linked Above)
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About the Author

Ashleigh Nefdt is a writer for Good Things Guy.

Ashleigh's favourite stories have always seen the hidden hero (without the cape) come to the rescue. As a journalist, her labour of love is finding those everyday heroes and spotlighting their spark - especially those empowering women, social upliftment movers, sustainability shakers and creatives with hearts of gold. When she's not working on a story, she's dedicated to her canvas or appreciating Mother Nature.

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