South Africans in Istanbul: Chance meeting on a street leaves Mzansi proud [video]

South Africans in Istanbul don’t stay strangers for long, if a viral TikTok video is anything to go by.

A chance meeting between fellow Saffas on a rainy street in Turkey has left social media users back home beaming with pride, and a few debating the etiquette of it all.

The clip was shared by TikTok user @galagain, who filmed the moment selfie-style near a tram line on a busy tourist walkway.

The on-screen caption sums it up: “This is what happens when you meet fellow South Africans.”

How the meeting unfolded

The encounter was warm, cheerful and completely unplanned.

The group mixed in a few isiZulu greetings and fell straight into easy conversation, like old friends rather than people who had just met thousands of kilometres from home.

One of the travellers, from Durban, was in Istanbul for work and had a few free days to explore.

The person filming said they work on a ship and were off duty, also making the most of some time ashore.

As it turned out, both were trying to find the same place: Istanbul’s famous Grand Bazaar.

They laughed as they compared notes on finding their way with Google Maps.

Saffas abroad react

Plenty of South Africans in the comments said the clip captured something every Saffa abroad recognises: the instant bond when you hear a familiar accent on a foreign street.

Not everyone was satisfied, though.

Some viewers playfully complained that there was no handshake and no hug, with one asking what had happened to Ubuntu.

Another said the background traffic sounded just like the taxis heading to Mamelodi and Mabopane.

Why Saffas abroad find each other

South Africans travel and work all over the world, from cruise ships to corporate offices.

Videos of Saffas bumping into each other in cities such as Dubai, London and New York have become a familiar and much-loved genre on social media.

IF YOU BUMP INTO A FELLOW SOUTH AFRICAN OVERSEAS DO YOU TREAT THEM LIKE A STRANGER?