Nearly two decades ago, Vernon Koekemoer became South Africa’s first social-media sensation. If you’re too young to remember, here’s a quick lesson in naughties pop culture. The year was 2008. Facebook wasn’t only for your parents and pre-X Twitter was a baby bird learning to screech. And no one knew it, but South Africa was about to produce an internet icon …
Vernon Koekemoer – real name Cassie Booyse – is a 51-year-old bodybuilder from Benoni. While thousands of ravers are going off at the annual H2O Wild Waters festival, there stands Cassie. A lone photograph of him (pictured below) starts circulating the web. Immovable. Arms like braai tongs, like he accidentally wandered off the set of a Van Damme action flick.
LEGEND OF VERNON KOEKEMOER
Somewhere in the fledgling metaverse, a guy by the name of Bryan Theunissen sees potential for a marketing experiment and dubs the character Vernon Koekemoer. Netizens take one look and collectively say: Yes, you’re our guy. The memes explode. Photoshopped images, parody films and T-shirts flood the market.
The rest of the world is watching, and Vernon Koekemoer enters the Urban Dictionary under: “Internet viral celebrity and international tough guy.” The mulleted legend only grows. He is digitally placed into historic photographs and Hollywood movie posters. The dude is everywhere …
CUE VIRAL SENSATION
There’s just one small problem, Cassie Booyse is completely unaware of his online fame, Sixto Rodriguez style. Finally, a co-worker shows him more than 400 photoshopped images of himself that have gone internationally viral. To his enormous credit, Cassie leans into his Vernon Koekemoer alter ego. He lands lucrative TV commercials for Vodacom. And even co-stars alongside Chuck Norris in a memorable 2011 Nando’s campaign.
Then, as viral fame does, it’s easy come – easy go. The spotlight eventually fades away for Vernon Koekemoer, and Cassie returns to the quiet life with his partner Linda. Sadly, health troubles enter the fray and in 2018 he starts to suffer from advanced arthritis in his hip. The guy is over 60 years of age and a pensioner by now, not that you’d tell by looking at his physique.
RIP VERNON KOEKEMOER
After a few failed operations, South Africans rally and crowdfund more than R100 000 to help with his medical bills. We never leave behind one of our own on the battlefield. Unfortunately, Cassie Booyse passes away in August 2024, at the age of 67. So, let’s give it up one more time for South Africa’s first meme, the original internet legend, Vernon Koekemoer. The man who showed up to a rave, owned it and conquered the internet. Lekker rus, Cassie …
But what do you think? Did you ever meet the legend? Share your stories in the comments section below …