'Planking' trend grips Mother City

Cape Town – The latest trend to hit social networks worldwide, known as "planking", has also taken hold in the Western Cape.

Since Die Burger reported about this trend on May 13, the Facebook group Western Cape Planking was created.

A second national Facebook group, Planking South Africa, also came into being during this time.

Planking South Africa on Monday had nearly 600 members, while Western Cape Planking had 126 members.

Conform

According to Zana Cohen, 23, founder of the Western Cape's Facebook group, planking is a great way to meet people because it is linked to social networks.

But planking's attraction extends far beyond that.

It's definitely a way to make a statement. Those who plank, do it because they don't want to conform to society, said Kuhn.

"Those who oppose planking feel that plankers do actually conform to society."

Kobus de Wet, 23, a B Sc student at the University of Stellenbosch, said he enjoys planking because it is fun to look at the photos afterwards.

"It's funny to see people lie in such strange positions in places where they would normally be standing. It's also nice to plank with friends."

Riaan Cruywagen

Western Cape Planking has also launched a campaign to persuade Riaan Cruywagen to plank on his desk during the 19:00 news bulletin on SABC2.

When questioned, Cruywagen said he had never heard of planking before and that he has no idea what it entails.

"I'm not even on Facebook," said Cruywagen.

De Wet said they will wait until the Riaan Cruywagen campaign has many supporters before they approach Cruywagen with a proposal.