‘No DNA, Just RSA!’ But what does it mean?
WITH South African athletes and sportstars being a bunch of winners lately, social media has coined the “No DNA Just RSA” catchphrase, which has everyone wondering what it means and where it comes from.
The term “No DNA Just RSA” appears to have been derived from a claim that was allegedly made by former United States President Donald Trump in 2020 after giving a video update on his recovery when he contracted the coronavirus.
There was a widely shared post that claimed he said: “The doctor’s said they’ve never seen a body kill the coronavirus like my body, they tested my DNA and it wasn’t DNA, it was USA.”
It later turned out to be untrue as the subtitles on the video were fake, this did not stop social media from running with it and that is how popular X user @Kay_Mahapa switched it up to “No DNA just RSA”.
The popularity of this phrase soared during the Olympics, Paralympics and Springboks games, as it became a patriotic rallying cry to both fans and athletes as it was tweeted and posted with every win for Mzansi.
No DNA, just RSA 🇿![CDATA[]]>🇦![CDATA[]]>🇿![CDATA[]]>🇦![CDATA[]]>🇿![CDATA[]]>🇦![CDATA[]]>🇿![CDATA[]]>🇦![CDATA[]]>🇿![CDATA[]]>🇦![CDATA[]]>🇿![CDATA[]]>🇦![CDATA[]]>🇿![CDATA[]]>🇦 https://t.co/sbuWrIEMy2
— 👑Santana M (@Santana_SaintM) September 7, 2024
NO DNA , JUST RSA 🇿![CDATA[]]>🇦![CDATA[]]>🇿![CDATA[]]>🇦.
— uLuu Mpintshami (@__kxrupt) September 9, 2024
Big W 🔥. This is really huge @exdhq https://t.co/PbRjFCm8Ug
South Africa's Ronwen Williams is the first goalkeeper in history to be nominated for the Yashin Trophy while playing for a club in Africa.
— ESPN Africa (@ESPNAfrica) September 4, 2024
No DNA, just RSA 🇿![CDATA[]]>🇦 pic.twitter.com/x0Z7VnNki8
This re-branded phrase has since gone viral on Twitter, now known as X and it is also used by local brands.
Whenever South Africans achieve a win, be it in music or sports, Mzansi netizens show their pride and joy by using the loved catchphrase - “No DNA Just RSA”.
The phrase was even used cheekily as the Soweto-born Chidimma Adetshina, won Miss Universe Nigeria recently.
As the phrase continues to spread, local corporate brands are also incorporating it on their social media posts as they embrace its message of pride as well as unity.
Though it may not have a clear meaning, it does not necessarily mean one thing to people. To some, this is a humorous way to express the pride they have in South Africa, celebrating the endless talent and to some it’s all about patriotism.