South Africans divided over popular ‘No DNA, Just RSA’ slogan

October 17, 2025 32

Image credit: TwoRedPens Agency, Facebook — Photo credit: TwoRedPens Agency, Facebook

A light-hearted tweet using the popular slogan “NO DNA, JUST RSA,” to celebrate supermodel Candice Swanepoel’s appearance at the 2025 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, has unexpectedly ignited a heated debate on social media platform X.

This, after some users suggested that it needed to be changed to “ONLY RSA IN THE DNA.”

Totally off topic but I really wish we could change this slogan to ‘ONLY RSA IN THE DNA’. So it could make more sense 😭 https://t.co/1qH4gP7MMQ

— Farah C. Fortune (@fcfortune) October 16, 2025

The suggestion, however, has been met with resistance from others, who argue the catchphrase should remain unchanged.

“NO DNA, JUST RSA,” is widely used by South Africans to celebrate national achievements in sports, music, and entertainment.

Many see it as a proud, uniquely local expression that doesn’t need to “make sense” to have impact.

Perhaps you don’t comprehend the slogan., the ‘No DNA, Just RSA’ means we don’t need proof that you’re South African, we recognize you purely for your excellence. That’s it 🇿🇦

— KayGee (@lucaskagiso) October 16, 2025

It doesn’t matter whether you are black, white, coloured or Indian (DNA) We are South Africans (RSA) we overcome, we win. This mainly emanating from Rugby successes 🙌 now other sporting codes, cricket 🏏 team at last won ICC trophy, soccer team qualified for fifa world cup

— Thomas (@thisandtgat_) October 16, 2025

@njabulo.ross.ntuli

Go fetch your Visas guys 🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦 #bafanabafana #southafrica #nodnajustrsa🇿🇦 #springboks

♬ original sound – Njabulo Ross Ntuli

@netbraaisa

Bokke celebrations in SA always bring 100% vibe! 🇿🇦😎 #OnlyInSouthAfrica #NoDNAJustRSA #netbraai #gobokke #southafricatiktok

♬ original sound – NetBraai – NetBraai

The debate has since taken a sharp turn, with one user blaming defenders of the original slogan on what they called a “poorly educated” generation shaped by former Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga, further fueling the online frenzy.

might wanna watch that tone when you’re the one who missed the reference and memetic evolution in this recent but key piece of local social media literacy https://t.co/UP9pFJSLGT

— ExtremelyAfricanUppityAfrican (@SunBirdZAKH) October 16, 2025

I mean… we’re in South AFRICA. Why would English be everyone’s first language? https://t.co/zYTE3G3lUD pic.twitter.com/BEs1xBq4Eh

— ntombii (@xNtombii) October 16, 2025